The movie Pitch Perfect was released in 2012. Though I was made aware of this movie's existence in every camp dining area for years to come, I had never seen the damn thing. Last night I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to watch anything I wanted to stay awake for (like more episodes of BEEF, of which I thoroughly enjoyed the first two) - also Netflix recommended this movie first, so my decision was made for me.
Here are the things I knew about the movie beforehand: the "Cup Song" was a music video, but also involved in this movie somehow. Elizabeth Banks was involved, who I know from Wet Hot American Summer, Hunger Games, and of course more recently the critically acclaimed Cocaine Bear.
Most of the people involved in Wet Hot American Summer made something after that movie that I liked, whether it was Bradley Cooper in Silver Lining Playbook, Joe Lo Truglio's character in Brooklyn 99, or Amy Poehler in general. There are too many more to name, especially given this is a review about a movie that only shares Elizabeth Banks.
Anyhow, that's all I knew about the movie before I watched it. I guess I also knew that Anna Kendrick was in it, but I really only know her from that series on Quibi about Dan Harmon's sex doll. That was a well done series, but good luck finding Quibi content that wasn't scooped up by Paramount (Reno 911). The pandemic was rough, right?
My Review:
First, the vomit bit was overdone. I realize Bridesmaids came out a year previously, and writers/producers were going through great lengths to prove women were funny. I thought Gilda Radner proved women were funny in the 70's, but this felt like "let's prove women can do gross-out jokes in multi-million dollar feature films." That's fine. Equality is great, though I've never understood gross-out humor to it's fullest or why anyone wanted to be a part of it. Daniel Tosh made a career out of showing people puking in various situations - I never laughed once. I'm generally not a huge fan of vomit especially - I've cleaned up enough vomit to where I think I've developed an brain allergy.
The "Cup Song" lasts maybe 20 seconds! How did every kid who came through camp for the next decade learn this damn cup thing from 20 seconds of footage? And then made up a ton of other combinations and words and .... if you haven't been the person responsible for a dining hall full of 400 girl scouts all trying to do a "Cup Song" then you don't know stress. Half the teachers and/or parents loved it, the other half wanted it to stop. Eventually it mercifully came to an end, but like a good virus it popped up from time to time. I'm all about expressing creativity, but not if it makes me deal with other people's issues. Also it was rough on the cups.
There is way too much sexually explicit stuff in this movie for 10 year olds, who would be playing the "Cup Song" through every meal in the dining hall for the next decade. Call me old fashioned but... you can just call me that, it's fine.
I did not like how the dad goes from "cool, encouraging father" to "complete dick" after she throws a trophy through a window. Lazy writing. Maybe the father figure gets some more character building in the sequels, but I was totally taken for a loop when he didn't want to hear her out and said she couldn't go to LA anymore. Seemed like some scenes were cut, or the writers knew they were writing a movie primarily for teenage girls who would interpret the father-heel turn without question. Probably the later.
Finally, I liked the whole "accept help when it is offered" message. Good message. The music was pretty good too. Even the "Cup Song" which haunts my stress dreams that are dining-hall related to this day. Good tunes is good tunes.
In summary: I think they did a fine job and I stayed awake for most of the movie.
-Stein
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