Throwback Thursday Review: 'Pitch Perfect'

Sorry for the slight delay on publishing this review, but this week I'm reviewing Pitch Perfect because Pitch Perfect 3 will be hitting theaters in a matter of weeks. Remaining Throwback Thursday Reviews for the year include The Room, Looper, and Jumanji (1995) to go along with the releases of The Disaster Artist, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. While I'm sick, I also plan on catching up on my other delayed Throwback Thursday Reviews, so expect to see some more of those popping up in the near future.

'Pitch Perfect' Review

Pitch Perfect grooves with an aspiring music producer and standoffish freshman who'd love nothing more than to jet off to Los Angeles and pursue her career, but instead Beca is attending Barden University to satisfy her father's demands. When she and her father come to an agreement that he'll help her move to LA if she spends a year at school, joins a student organization, and remains disinterested in college, Beca joins a regimented female a cappella group intent on defeating their campus rivals and winning the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella. However, Beca soon discovers the group's tired, traditional repertoire is in desperate need of some fine-tuning and puts her music mixing talents to use as she brings some much needed energy and a refreshing sound to the Barden Bellas. 

The plot of Pitch Perfect is by-the-books. I'm sure you've seen a million movies with a similar premise, but Pitch Perfect stands out from the crowd by harmonizing around collegiate a cappella, and the end result a ca-enjoyable. First time feature film director Jason Moore adapted Mickey Rapkin's book with the same happy-go-lucky atmosphere one would associate with Glee. While I haven't read the book, screenwriter Kay Cannon successfully translated Rapkin's work into a delightfully hilarious musical comedy.

Pitch Perfect's strongest assets are its irreverent humor and the countless catchy a cappella covers of plenty of popular tunes. If characters aren't being developed, they're probably singing or cracking wise, and that formula works wonders!

One of the more amusing gags would certainly have to be the a cappella competition commentary from commentators played by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins. It feels largely improvised, but their jokes are among the funniest to be found in the film because of their absurdity.

Pitch Perfect isn't without a proper dosage of heart though, as the film's focal romance is sweet and treats viewers to a pleasant payoff towards the film's conclusion. I especially like the incorporation of The Breakfast Club and self-aware sentiments regarding film endings found in Pitch Perfect's romantic subplot.

Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, and Hana Mae Lee fill the ranks of the principal Bellas as reserved recruit Beca, ostentatious "Fat Amy," cheerful Chloe, stringent leader Aubrey, sex-driven Stacie, tomboyish Cynthia-Rose, and soft-spoken Lilly. Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, and Adam Devine also make an impression as good guy Jesse, geeky Benji, and brutish Bumper, but the ensemble is great across the board.

On the whole, Pitch Perfect still hits all the right notes in spite of a predictable and formulaic story structure.

Film Assessment: B