In 2012, Pitch Perfect was released and to this day has had an ever-loving fan base – but why?
Nisha Cullen, a Pitch Perfect fanatic, breaks down just what makes this film the perfect comfort film for Film News Blitz.
What is ‘Pitch Perfect’ about?
Pitch Perfect was released in 2012 and starred the likes of Anna Kendrick, Adam DeVine, Rebel Wilson, and many others.
On the surface, it’s just a film about American college students singing in acapella.
But when you look deeper, you have a film about identity, belonging, and finding yourself.
The film primarily follows Beca, played by Kendrick, as she is pressured into university by her father when all she wants to do is become a music producer.
After reluctantly auditioning for the toxically run acapella group, The Barden Bellas, she gets in and has to navigate the old-fashioned and judgmental group, which is everything Beca hates.
Through hardship, breakdowns, and a LOT of fighting, the Bellas manage to win a national title.
A seemingly generic concept. So what makes Pitch Perfect so special?
Representation
As women, we are often held to unrealistic standards, especially when movie and TV stars always look a certain way.
Aubrey, the head of the Bellas, wanted the group to appear this way – perfect, slim, feminine, generic and, unfortunately, white.
However, when auditioning, she quickly learned that she doesn’t have the numbers to be so picky.
The Bellas then became an amalgamation of every kind of woman – and they sounded great.
Which was the whole point in the first place: to be a talented acapella group.
Seeing a group of normal women is comforting. It reflects real life – and that’s why representation matters.
Familiarity
At the base of it all is music.
I struggle with musicals because, while the music might be good, it’s all new.
Sometimes hearing a familiar song can be comforting.
You can sing along, and perhaps enjoy a new rendition of said song.
That’s what Pitch Perfect does. It takes popular songs, such as No Diggity, Since U Been Gone, Magic, and reinvents them.
I can’t hear Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson without singing the version from Pitch Perfect – it’s that monumental.
And it’s fun. Acapella for many people was not a concept they’d heard of, so learning about it in such a way was fun and innovative.
‘Pitch Perfect’ humour
Say what you will about the ‘cringe’ millennial humour, I think it’s funny.
Yes, there might be jokes that don’t land today, but still, it’s a product of its time.
The heartfelt moments are buried beneath, sometimes physical and sometimes rather crude, humour.
WATCH ‘PITCH PERFECT’ ON NETFLIX
Overview
Whether you’re going through a breakup, having a hard week at work, or simply just feeling down, Pitch Perfect has your back. At least for me it does.
Lonely nights, movie nights with friends, Pitch Perfect is always a safe bet in my eyes. I think it’s aca-mazing.
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