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Pitch Perfect

7/10

Stars: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Ben Platt, Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Michael Higgins

Director: Jason Moore

Well, a-cappella (choral singing without music) makes a change from streetdancing movies and its script is funnier too. The formula, though, is much the same: new girl Beca (Kendrick) joins an all-female college choir, ruled with oh-so-feminine iron hand by queen bee Aubrey (Camp) and tries to change their set ways so that they can progress from regional to national finalists in an annual competition.

Standing in their way are The Treblemakers, newly joined by Jesse (Astin), Beca's putative love interest, who always seem to win.

Get the picture? Of course you do. Guess the outcome? Of course you can. But the film is buoyed by an often raunchily funny script that creates amusing caricatures from the individual girl members, led by distinctive Australian actress Wilson as Fat Amy, and throws in rambunctious contest comperes in MCP Higgins - 'Women are about as good at a-cappella as they are at being doctors' - and his co-host (exec producer Banks), who, in her sassy-mouthed fashion, gives as good as she gets.

The script also contributes some ridiculous but funny sideshoots - of one competing group, it's remarked that 'the frontman has released his own line of sports sandals' - and the finale is predictably rousing with some seriously good singing from girls and boys alike.

Oscar nominee Kendrick may be slumming it a little here, but she gives it her all and dominates the stage to great effect at the end. It is, however, hardly 'Bridesmaids meets Ted' as one reviewer has suggested, but then the 12A certificate should tell you that.

David Quinlan

USA 2012. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour (unspecified).
113 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 17 Dec 2012