If you are looking for a fun film with a lot of liveliness, then look to Pitch Perfect for your entertainment this weekend.  It’s not just a comedy, but a creative musical that aims at a younger crowd yet reaches all adult levels with snappy wit, involving storyline and high energy performances.

The story centers on Beca (Anna Kendrick) a new student at Barden University who’s more of a loner than a mixer.  Into her own type of music, Beca avoids the campus’s coral groups who feast on attention from the rest of their classmates while doing covers on songs of the past.  But, as life sometimes takes odd turns, Beca ends up in an all female a cappella group called the Bellas a mix of ladies that have actually earned some accolades up until they bombed out in the finals of a national music competition.

The enjoyment here comes with Beca getting involved with the wide variety of personalities that make up the musical vocal group.  Much like the odd balls of Bridesmaids, this chorus has some hilarious members from bitchy to bodacious.  Director Jason Moore keeps his talent energetic, witty and aggressive in their attempt to unseat the all men’s group The Treblemakers who happen to be last year’s national grand champions.

Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy and Brittany Snow as Chloe

The film puts on an amazing show with Anna Kendrick (Tony Award nominated for her work in the Broadway musical production of “High Society”) singing some enjoyable covers with her regal support crew.  Topping the Bellas are several familiar faces all in top vocal form including; Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) as a very funny Fat Amy who has a resounding voice, Anna Camp (The Help) as Aubrey, Brittany Snow (Hairspray) as leader of the group Chloe, Alexis Knapp (Project X) plays a very spicy Stacie and Hana Mae Lee (TV’s “Mike and Molly”) as the very meek Lilly.  This core of the Bellas keeps the film appealing, musical and humorous.

On the men’s team The Treblemakers, director Moore gets fine performances out of Skylar Astin from TV’s “Girls” as the Beca’s love interest and Adam Devine (TV’s “Workaholics”) leader of the group and obsessed with being the best.  Without the all men’s competitive team against the Bellas the film would have been quite flat.  The guys put on some nicely choreographed performances and ramp up the show.

Anna Kendrick (center) plays Beca in Pitch Perfect

Although set up as more of a comedy than a musical, there’s outstanding performances on the part of the whole company with Kendrick, Wilson and Snow taking center stage.  With cover tunes of Gloria Estefan’s “Turn the Beat Around”, Rihanna’s “S&M” and Backstreet’s “No Diggity” the girls turn the film into a high energy tune fest. The guys add “Don’t Stop the Music” (Rihanna), “Let It Whip” (The Jazz Band), “Mickey” (Toni Basil) and other recognizable hits keeping the film rocking.

Pitch Perfect has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexual material, language and drug references.

FINAL ANALYSIS:  A fun film with an upbeat musical theme.★★★★★★

Additional Film Information:

• Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow with John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks
• Directed by: Jason Moore
• MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual material, language and drug references
• Genre: Comedy, Musical
• Running Time: 1 hour 52 minutes
• Opening Date: October 5, 2012
• Distributed by: Universal Pictures