This 112 minute musical comedy, directed by Jason Moore, came out in theaters everywhere Oct. 5. Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and Rebel Wilson, this movie hit the ground running.
The movie is centered around Barden University freshman Beca, played by Anna Kendrick, who likes to keep her distance from people. Beca is seriously committed to becoming one of the great DJs that rock the world with their mad beats and remixes.
Her father, Dr. Mitchell played by John Benjamin Hickey, isn’t very supportive of her dream to become a DJ. He thinks it is just a hobby that won’t really go anywhere. Harsh, right? Well, he makes her a deal that is just too hard to resist. Dr. Mitchell says that she has to try and make an effort to join anything in college and make some memories. He wants her to have fun and participate in the whole college experience. After a year, if she still doesn’t want to be at Barden, he will finance her way to Los Angeles to try and kick start her career as a DJ.
Beca unexpectedly gets forced into joining the all girl acapella group, the Barden Bellas. While taking a shower, one of the Barden Bellas, stark nude I might add, crowds into her stall. The girl stubbornly says that she won’t leave until Beca sings with her because she is completely confident with her whole package (she even said so). Completely embarrassed and totally uncomfortable Beca obviously decides to sing. If you were cornered in a shower, would you say no? Needless to say, Beca’s voice was loved on the spot.
She also has a part-time job at the school’s radio station along with her friend Jesse, who also happens to be a part of the Barden Bellas arch rivals. He opens her imagination. Jesse brings back some of her innocence with the games he plays on the job and having her watch movies. Jesse helps Beca to loosen up and have fun. As the budding romance starts to blossom, Beca finds friends she didn’t expect and makes the memories she was completely against.
This is a very funny, very interesting way to capture the timeless battle of finding oneself in difficult situations. It’s a beautiful way to describe the hardships in your lives. Music is a way to express yourself in ways that you just can’t with words. Jesse has a moment with Beca where he tells her the very best part in a movie is the end. To his credit, Jesse was completely right. The ending has you dancing and singing along because it’s just that amazing. I would give it five stars for originality and excellence and like the slogan says, get ready to be pitched slapped!