Pitch Perfect: Glee for Grown ups

I went and saw Pitch Perfect today as a late birthday treat, and it was glorious.

It follows a disaffected teen, Beca, starting her first year of college.  She wants nothing more than to skip the whole college experience and go straight to LA to become a music producer/DJ, but her father insists she give it the old college try for at least one year.  If she does, and still doesn't like it, he will pay for her to move out to LA himself, but he does stipulate she needs to at least try to fit in, and find activities.

The group she finds is the a capella group the Barden Bellas, a straight-laced, very stiff and formal all girl group.  They were disgraced at the previous nationals by the current captain, who had a very...unfortunate gastrointestinal issue, and have to rebuild, starting with Beca.

They get a motley group of girls who don't fit with the previous mold of Bella's, but there isn't much of a choice.

What follows is a fairly predictable underdog story, but that isn't why a person would watch this film. 

The comedy is fantastic.  From the weird roommate to Fat Amy, from the all too real college social situations to the physical comedy, I was rolling through most of the movie.

But the real highlights come in the songs.  The arrangements are great and the song choices, even the ones that are wrong in the movie world, are the right choices for the wrongness, if that makes sense.  And this movie was packed with songs.  You can't turn around without running into another musical number, which is perfect.  That's why I wanted to go to this movie, and I'm fairly certain that's why most people who would go to this movie would as well.

So, to sum up: predictable story, but great comedy and music.  Go see it if you haven't already.

Grade: A-   

Bonus!  Music listing, for those that like that kind of thing(courtesy indiewire)

"Don't Stop The Music" - Rihanna
"The Sign" - Ace Of Base
"212" - Azealia Banks
"Bust A Move" - Young MC
"Carry On My Wayward Son" - Kansas
"Lost In It" - Eroc
"Let It Whip" - Dazz Band
"Punching In A Dream" - The Naked And Famous
"Keep You" - Wild Belle
"Don't Move" - Phantogram
"Titanium" - David Guetta ft. Sia
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
"Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
"Before We Fall In Love" - Damato
"Keep Your Head Up" - Andy Grammer
"Starships" - Nicki Minaj
"Turn The Beat Around" - Vicky Sue Robinson
"Rome" - Yeasayer
"Mickey" - Tony Basil
"Like A Virgin" - Madonna
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
"It Must Have Been Love" - Roxette
"S&M" - Rihanna
"Let's Talk About Sex" - Salt 'N Pepa
"I'll Make Love To You" - Boyz II Men
"Feels Like The First Time" - Daoud Heidami
"No Diggity" - Blackstreet
"Bulletproof" - La Roux
"Release Me" - Agnes
"Don't You Forget About Me" - Simple Minds
"Fuck You" - Lily Allen
"Eternal Flame" - The Bangles
"Right Round" - Flo Rida
"Booty Wurk (One Cheek At A Time)" - T-Pain
"Hip Hop 911" - Stocks McGuire
"Party In The USA" - Miley Cyrus
"Blame It On The Boogie" - Michael Jackson
"Open Season" - High Highs
"Get You Off" - Stan Carrizosa
"Chelsea Dagger" - The Fratellis
"(Whoomp!) There It Is" - Tag Team
"Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"Just A Dream" - Nelly
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
"Bright Lights Bigger City" - Cee Lo Green
"Magic" - B.o.B ft. Rivers Cuomo
"Price Tag" - Jessie J ft. B.o.B.
"Give Me Everything" - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer
"We Came To Smash" - Martin Solveig ft. Dev