But I've seen Bring It On (repeatedly), and Pitch Perfect, you're no Bring It On. Here's why:
- Start with the fact that Anna Kendrick's character hits all of the beats of the Dushku character in Bring It On so exactly that it was disconcerting. Yes, we get it: the formula requires that we get the New Kid Who Reluctantly Joins the Team and Brings Some Attitude to make the good team better (again: yay Drumline), but she doesn't have to be another dark-haired safely-punk-girl in a world of blondes who pushes them to integrate more modern culture into staid routines.
- One thing which separates this film from its peers in a weird way is that it's never entirely sure whether it's celebrating or mocking the talent in question. Especially through the Elizabeth Banks/John Michael Higgins commentary, the film wants to have it both ways in acknowledging the inherent dorkiness of a capella singing while respecting the effort it takes to do it well, and errs too far on the side of undermining the very point of the movie.
- Too many plot threads abandoned: was there a romantic triangle with the radio station dude? did Kendrick overcome her daddy issues? were there any repercussions to her arrest? does roommate Kimmy Jin ever not-suck (and, um, did this film have an overall Asian stereotyping problem)? Why not pare things done and ditch the dad and the roommate to either (a) develop a romantic triangle or (b) flesh out more of the surrounding singers?
- Needs more Clefs.
- Wish the movie had gone PG so I could've taken Lucy. It unnecessarily went a little harder on the sex and language than the material required.
