With the success of Glee, it was inevitable that college competitive singing would make its way to the screen. Director Jason Moore's Pitch Perfect centers on a saucy, snarky, spirited female a cappella group known as the Barden Bellas of Barden University, who are determined to break through the “glass ceiling” and triumph over Barden's Treblemakers, the male national champions, who are fronted by obnoxious Bumper (Adam DeVine). The Bellas' authoritarian blond leader, Aubrey (Anna Camp), and her redheaded BFF, Chloe (Brittany Snow), forcibly recruit reluctant freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick), who is determined to be a music producer and is only attending Barden because her father is a professor at the college. Eventually, Beca is joined by Aussie quipster Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), soft-spoken Lilly (Hana Mae Lee), and butch Cynthia Rose (Ester Dean). At the campus radio station, Beca also hooks up with wannabe film-score composer Jesse (Skyler Astin), a geeky Treblemaker. Adapted from Mickey Rapkin's 2009 non-fiction book Pitch: Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, this is an admittedly formulaic story with a conventional conclusion, but it's also infectious fun. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (the first with director Jason Moore, and producers Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman; the second with producer Paul Brooks), deleted and extended scenes (16 min.), a “Starships” music video with YouTube star Mike Tompkins (4 min.), “A Look Inside” behind-the-scenes featurette (3 min.), “Line-O-Rama” outtakes, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are “Meanwhile…” alternate scenes (20 min.), additional “Line-O-Rama's” (13 min.), “Backstage at Barden” character profiles (7 min.), an “On the Set: Burrito Drive-By!” segment, and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a fun film.] (S. Granger)[DVD/Blu-ray Review—May 5, 2015—Universal, 112 min., PG-13, DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: $22.98—Making its second appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 2012's Pitch Perfect: Aca-Awesome Edition sports a great transfer and DTS-HD 5.1 audio on the Blu-ray release. Extras are identical to the previous release (above), but this edition also includes a bonus “sing-along” version of the film. Bottom line: if you have the earlier Blu-ray release, you can pass on this one.]
Pitch Perfect
Universal, 112 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray: $34.98, Dec. 18 Volume 28, Issue 1
Pitch Perfect
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