PITCH PERFECT  3.2****

                                                                                   Becca (Anna Kendrick) is a freshman at Barden University who dreams of going to LA and becoming a DJ, but her father is a professor at Barden and urges her to study there at least for one year. If she doesn't like it, then he promises to help her  with her plans to go to LA, but under the condition she get more involved in the College activities. That is when she decides to join the Barden Bellas, an all-girl a-cappella group headed by two other students: Chloe  and  Aubrey . After a disastrous performance in last year's collegiate finals, Chloe and Aubrey are having a hard time recruiting new blood. Besides recruiting Becca, they  have to pick some very unconventional coeds (i.e. not the pretty glamorous types) but those picked are talented and are needed in order to be good enough to face last year's champions: the all-male group from Barden, The Trebles, who are the favorites to win the competition again, But the Bellas are determined  to win but must overcome the “do the safe songs” attitude.

“Pitch Perfect" is basically "Bring It On” ( the rather good competitive cheerleading movie)", but with a cappella singing groups instead of cheerleaders and without the dirty tricks to sabotage the other.…and it's also much funnier. It’ll also remind you of TV’s GLEE.  If this doesn't sound generic enough, there is also a love story subplot centered around Beca and a guy who looks shockingly like Dane Cook. OK, so if this sounds like every teen flick that you've ever seen, about a misunderstood misfit who ends up helping the popular kids (that were mean to her in the beginning ) try to win their something-or-other championship/tournament, only to discover that in the end that they are all the same,  then that is only because  "Pitch Perfect” is exactly that. But before you write this dark horse off, let me just say that it is a real movie treat due to a sharp really funny script and a surprisingly hilarious, eccentric and immensely engaging cast, which include the likes of  Rebel Wilson (as Fat Amy… she was also the fat one in “Bridesmaids”) and  Anna Kendrick (as Becca). There is also  the perfectly hilarious banter from Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins, who play the two commentators of the national a cappella competition. “Pitch Perfect" elevates itself far above the mundane-ness of your everyday teen comedy. In fact, from the non-stop laughs, to the quite satirical teenage dialogue and the great music  … this is a quite fun “feel good” movie.  

This film also gives you a full dose of musical entertainment. Many of the songs will be familiar to you and you will be tempted to sing-along because the music and singers are so enthusiastic. It’s infectious. My wife had to nudge me a couple of times to pipe it down.

The movie is fun and sassy and just a hoot to watch. The “perfect” type of movie for having a truly fun experience.

Clark