Pitch Perfect:The musical comedy hits all the right notes

Look, we’re just as surprised as you. A teen musical is not very 40-something hipster and we went into it convinced the whole show choir thing was as tired of a premise as vampires. And, it’s a pretty predictable young love story to boot. But, when you meld the absurdity of serious competition (a la Best in Show) with the off-the-cuff remarks of the consistently funny Rebel Wilson (who, as Fat Amy, rejects the advances of a nerdy male suitor who tells her he has the feeling they should kiss by saying, “I sometimes I have the feeling I can do crystal meth, but then I think, ‘Hmmm . . . better not”) and some truly snappy songs—well, it actually turns out to be a fabulously fun way to spend 112 minutes.

Would-be deejay Beca (Anna Kendrick) is a reluctant freshman at Barden University, the victim of her estranged professor father’s desire for her to take advantage of a free education. Promising to get involved in at least one extra-curricular activity that is not working at the college radio station, Beca succumbs to the strong-arm recruitment tactics of The Bellas, an all-female a capella group. The rag tag band of bad-news Bellas experiences highs and lows on their quest to win big in competition, discovering a lot about themselves along the way.

There is, of course, a romance, as Beca learns both how to love and how to sit still and watch Breakfast Club all the way through to the end. And, there’s a ton of well-choreographed mashups that’ll keep you humming all the way home.

Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks (commentator Gail) and John Michael Higgins (her commentator partner, John) all turn in strong performances in Pitch Perfect, but it’s Wilson who consistently steals the spotlight. Check it out for yourself. We bet this well-executed pitch-slapping will bring you around to our way of thinking.