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I am quite surprised that it has taken Hollywood this long to bring battling a cappella groups to the big screen -- and I am even more pleasantly surprised that Pitch Perfect, a film about college a cappella groups, looks like Bridesmaids with musical interludes.

 

The film, which stars Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson (a Bridesmaids alum), tells the tale of Beca (Kendrick), a freshman at Barton University who gets roped into joining the The Bellas, an all girls singing group. The Bellas take on their all-male rivals in a series of sing-offs, concluding with a giant show-down between the two groups. The all-star cast also includes Brittany Snow, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, and Adam Devine, along with a number of newcomers. Penned by Kay Cannon (“30 Rock”), the film has a number of dark, twisted lines that are hilarious (“Welcome to Barton University. Here is your official B.U. rape whistle!”) and awkward moments (Beca’s secret singing abilities are discovered while she is in the shower).

 

While Pitch Perfect does look a great deal like another famous show about a cappella groups, the trailer reminds me of the charm of “Glee”'s earlier days. The film could be interpreted as a college version of “Glee” (which is, ironically, one of the storylines “Glee” will follow in the fall), but it seems to have more of the wit and female-centric storylines of other great female-driven comedies, such as Bridesmaids, Saved!, and Mean Girls.

 

It does seem that film and television has recently undergone a fascination with a cappella groups, ranging from “The Sing Off” to even Andy on “The Office” being a part of his a cappella group at Cornell. Of course, the surge in popularity has gone up since “Glee” first aired in 2009, but I can’t help but wonder if we have always secretly been intrigued with a cappella groups and Hollywood has just noticed this now (anyone else remember “The B Sharps”, Homer’s barber sharp quartet on “The Simpsons”?), or has there always been a high emphasis on musicals and this is just the first time we have explored other forms of them?

 

Either way, Pitch Perfect looks hysterical. Rebel Wilson nearly steals every scene in the trailer as self-depreciating “Fat Amy.” Check out the trailer and let us know which scene is your favorite:

 

 

 

 

- Sarah Osman, YH Staff