One of the best parts of being a film fan is that you can still be genuinely surprised by a movie. Pitch Perfect is one movie that I am continuously surprised by every time I see it. Why is this so enjoyable? The plot is cliché and its direction is clear from the start. But the whole movie is so ballsy that it refuses to give in to conventional expectations.
Pitch Perfect has followed the path of cult movies in the 21st Century. It wasn't a humongous success at the box office, “only” making $113 million worldwide. But it cost Universal and Gold Circle Films just $17 million to make and has found its audience with a best-selling soundtrack and constant replays on cable. Three years after its release (can you believe that this is already three years old?) and Pitch Perfect is getting a sequel, which hits theaters this weekend.
For those who have somehow not seen this, you have to stop reading and do so now. Based on a novel by Mickey Rapkin, Pitch Perfect tells the underdog story of the Barden Bellas of Barden University. They came close to winning a national a cappella competition, but when Audrey (Anna Camp) threw up on stage, they lost it. Only Aubrey and Chloe (Brittany Snow) remained on the team the following school year, so it's up to them to put together a whole new team if they hope to compete again. Of course, the team isn't all Aubrey hoped for. Beca (Anna Kendrick) is the hardest one to get along with, as she didn't even think she could make any friends in college.
The Becas' main competition is the Treblemakers, who also go to Barden University. They are led by Bumper Allen (Adam DeVine), who is totally obnoxious. Also joining the group is Jesse Swanson (Skylar Astin), who goes after Beca's heart, since the movie does need some kind of romance mixed in.
The group of misfits come together though, with Aubrey learning that you can't just sing songs from the '90s and Beca learning what it means to be a part of the team. Along the way, they also become friends and surprise everyone in the end.
So yes, as I noted before, there's nothing about Pitch Perfect's story that is remarkable. It's the same underdog story you see in countless sports films. But the characters in Kay Cannon's script are so unique that we can't look away. I could watch hours of footage of Rebel Wilson showing off what Fat Amy can do. Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean and Hanna Mae Lee each have their own highlights, even if it is essentially just them repeating the same jokes whenever they pop up. They all wind up stealing the movie from Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow.
Another aspect of the film that works oddly well is the commentary that often plays during the competitions. It's not clear exactly who Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins are taping commentary for, but they keep the singing interludes interesting for anyone who might get bored by watching a cappella performances. Their interplay is weirdly funny, although Banks takes some getting used to. Higgins, who is hilarious in just about everything he ever does, delivers his remarks in an off-the-cuff way that makes them feel even more genuine. Obviously all that work with Christopher Guest has paid off.
At a hair under two hours, Pitch Perfect does seem to run a little bit too long, as if the inevitable ending needs to be delayed for some more funny business and longer performances. And the acting isn't really anything that would win awards. Kendrick clearly isn't giving her all, like she did in her Oscar-nominated performance in Up In The Air. But Pitch Perfect isn't something you see to exercise your brain. It's 115 minutes of escapism and, at least to a fan of old musicals, it's fun escapism.
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