Pitch Perfect

Movies these days seem to forget that they can be fun. Looking at the major blockbuster hits within the last year, we have films such as The Dark Knight Rises, The Grey, Les Misérables, Zero Dark Thirty, Skyfall, and Prometheus, among others. These grittier films have a place, and they certainly make an impact, but it's nice to have a fun, upbeat movie to relax to. You know, one that doesn't haunt you for days, but you can still remember it fondly whenever it may come up in conversation or elsewhere in life. This is exactly the niche that Pitch Perfect fills.

http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/

The movie's plot isn't anything to write home about, it's a rather cookie cutter tale of a rebellious girl, Beca (Anna Kendrick), who finds something (and someone) she cares about and it changes her into a better person. In this case, she finds  a passion in an all female a cappella group (the Barden Bellas) on her campus. Beca has a passion for remixing music, but her father, a professor at the university, doesn't think this will lead to any sort of prestigious career. He encourages her to devote herself to something and become more involved on campus, and so she joins the Barden Bellas. Beca is romantically pursued by Jesse (Skylar Astin) throughout the movie, but this romance plays out just like any love story in media, so don't expect anything new there. The Bellas are in fierce competition with the Treble Makers, the all male a cappella group, to win the National Competition of a cappella groups. It's hard to write about plots in generalities, and I don't want to reveal any of the trends just in case there are some readers who don't watch much film, but this movie plays out the same way most underdog movies play out, and you wont be at all surprised by the plot.

http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/

The movies writing is full of ham and can be spotty at times, but there are genuine laughs throughout. There are, however, some moments that are taken just a bit too far, and you'll know them when you see them. Fortunately it's not enough to ruin the movie and there will inevitably be a few people who will get their kick from the rather misplaced gross-out moments. What's really apparent about this film is how much fun everyone is having making it, and you really can't help but enjoy watching. It's truly a pleasure watching actors who are enjoying what it is they're doing, especially when they don't have to portray too serious of a role, because at that point it is no longer acting, they simply are their character. That being said, all of the acting in the movie is excellent, but the character that probably stands out most in the movie is Fat Amy (portrayed by Rebel Wilson). Wilson is an Australian comedian and she has such a mastery of the timing and inflection needed to be a straight-faced comedian that you'll love almost everything that she says. Fat Amy's character is so over the top, yet she's completely serious throughout the movie and I can't imagine any other actress portraying the role as well as Wilson does. It's been reported that much of Wilson's role is improvised and that she'd occasionally go on tangents that would reduce the cast and crew to stitches. To me, roles that are mostly improvised, but are still relevant and memorable are some of the most impressive roles, just look at Bill Murray! Finally, all of the characters have great voices, and hearing a cappella renditions of various pop songs is certainly a blast. If you have apprehensions about the music in the movie, it would be best to just get rid of those.

http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/

Original? No. Experimental? No. Fun? Extremely. Pitch Perfect is a movie that doesn't break any new ground, but it treads familiar ground in what is certainly an exciting and enjoyable manner. I would recommend this movie to anybody who is looking to just kick off their shoes and relax for an evening, you won't regret it.