Comedy, PG 13, 112 mins

Director: Jason Moore

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson

Release date: 29 September 2012

Cringe all you want at the word “musical” but Pitch Perfect took musical comedy to another level. Dubbed a mixture of Glee and Mean Girls, this picture is the perfect balance between music, college life and comedy.

Beca, an outsider freshman at Barden University, is bribed into joining the school’s all-girl a capella group – The Bellas. The film follows the group’s preparations for the upcoming campus competition and Beca’s efforts to switch up the group’s lacklustre performance.

It delivers plenty of laughs with the help of memorable characters. Fat Amy, played by Aussie comedienne Rebel Wilson, steals the show with her awkward yet hilarious humour. Fat Amy was a favourite from the start. I struggled to keep a straight face whenever she was on screen

If you thought that Fat Amy would be the only one worth watching for then you’d be getting much more than you bargained for. Each character is as quirky as the next. From the brutally honest commentators, to Beca’s unfriendly roommate, to the obnoxious lead singer from The Bellas rivals – the Treblemakers.

The soundtrack is a combination of contemporary music mixed with various iconic hits. The harmonies are spot on and the a capella and mash-ups are very Glee-esque.

Who knew Anna Kendrick could sing? And well? Twilight actually did produce some real talent after all. The “riff-off” (sing-off between The Bellas and Treblemakers) really showcased her voice. The familiar range of songs in the riff-off provides entertainment for all ages.

Splashes of pop culture make the film current and relatable with a younger audience. However, the humour is the film’s saving grace. Without it, the film risked falling into the cliché and generic plot line of: girl finds clique, lead group drastically improve their performance and boy gets girl. Still, it is nowhere near as cheesy as – dare I say – High School Musical.

Pitch Perfect will have you singing along with the cast and the witty script will keep you tuned in until the end.

4 stars out of 5

Click here to watch the trailer