Synopsis
Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school’s all-girls singing group. Injecting some much-needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.
Cast
Anna Kendrick …Beca
Skylar Astin…Jesse
Ben Platt…Benji
Brittany Snow…Chloe
Anna Camp…Aubrey
Rebel Wilson…Amy
Adam Devine…Bumper
Alexis Knapp…Stacie
Ester Dean…Cynthia Rose
Hana Mae Lee…Lilly
Kelley Jakle… Jessica
Wanetah Walmsley…Denise
Shelley Regner…Ashley
Caroline Fourmy…Mary Elise
Best character
My favourite character is 100% Chloe and not just because I used to have a huge crush on Brittany Snow. Her character is just so cute and you cannot convince me that her and Beca would have made a good couple, their chemistry was insane.
Best supporting character
I think he’s technically a main character but I want to mention Jesse purely because I have a huge crush on Skylar Astin. He’s such an amazing singer and he did have great chemistry with Anna Kendrick.
Favourite scenes
*I do not own the rights to any videos in this post, no copyright infringement was intended. All rights go to the production studio*
This entire film is basically one ‘best musical moment’ so I’m scrapping that category for Pitch Perfect and putting musical moments here too. Those are my favourite parts of the film anyway.
This is a very short moment, but my god do I fancy Skylar (Jesse) an ungodly amount. I think it’s because he’s such a good singer, but I’m not sure.
The audition scene for this film is absolutely legendary and you can’t convince me otherwise. I will often sing this song in the style that everyone does it in this scene.
Also, why the hell does Beca just randomly grab a cup and do that? It’s so weird and makes no sense.
Speaks for itself doesn’t it?
Sidenote: Ester Dean (Cynthia Rose) sings S&M, which was co-written by her.
This is a bit of a random one to mention but it’s pure chaos and has some good one-liners.
This might be one of the best mashups of all time. It’s just so good from start to finish.
Best quotes and one liners
AUBREY: What’s your name?
AMY: Fat Amy.
AUBREY: You call yourself Fat Amy?
AMY: Yeah, so twig bitches like you don’t do it behind my back.
CHLOE: So, are you interested? [about joining the Bellas]
BECA: Sorry, it’s just… it’s pretty lame.
AUBREY: A-ca-scuse me? Synchronized lady dancing to a Mariah Carey chart-topper is not lame!
CHLOE: We sing all over the world, and we compete in national championships!
BECA: On purpose?
AUBREY: We played the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, you bitch!
JESSE: So, what’s your deal? Are you one of those girls who’s all dark and mysterious, then she takes off her glasses and that amazingly scary ear spike and you realize that, you know, she was beautiful the whole time?
BECA: I don’t wear glasses.
JESSE: Then you’re halfway there.
TOMMY: For the audition, you will sing 16 bars of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’. If a group likes you, they will contact you directly. My tone-deaf sidekick, Justin here, will be collecting your information.
JUSTIN: [Walking behind Tommy] If I could sing a lick, I would. But I can’t. And I hate myself every day because of it.
TOMMY: But if you think this is just some high school club where you can sing and dance your way through any social issue… Or confuse sexuality, you have come to the wrong place. There is none of that here. That’s high school. This shit is real life. NOW. don’t just bring it, sing it, and let’s do this.
AUBREY: [Bella initiation] Promise to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a Bella woman. Neither sickness, nor midterms, nor my lady times will prevent me from her-monizing with my sisters. And I solemnly promise never to have sexual relations with a Treblemaker or may my vocal cords be ripped out by wolves.
BUMPER: I have a feeling we should kiss. Is that a good feeling or an incorrect feeling?
AMY: Well… sometimes I have the feeling I can do crystal meth, but then I think, mmm… better not.
CHLOE: Because I have nodes…
AMY: Chloe, don’t worry, it’s just God punishing you ’cause you’re a ginger.
- This is technically a deleted scene/blooper but it’s too fun to not mention, especially because I am also ginger right now.
AMY: [out of breath from learning choreography] I should have taken that cardio tip more seriously.
AUBREY: How much have you done?
AMY: You just saw it.
JESSE: Hey Hilary Swank from Million Dollar Baby.
BECA: Hey, you could just say ‘Hey Million Dollar Baby” you don’t have to reference the specific actress.
JESSE: Damn. Prison changed you.
AMY: I’m gonna kill him! I’m gonna finish him like a cheesecake!
AUBREY: What the hell?
AMY: It’s pretty cool, actually… I think we’re just running out of gas.
AUBREY: No, that can’t be! You just filled the tank!
AMY: Yeah, I did! And yet, maybe I didn’t, because I got hit by flying Mexican food. [the bus sputters to a stop] And we’re out.
AUBREY: A-ca-scuse me?
AMY: A-ca-believe it!
LILLY: I set fires to feel joy
DONALD: Well, that is adorable
AUBREY: Chloe, could you please get your head out of your ass? It’s not a hat!
AMY: A-ca-awkward…
GAIL: I think we have just seen some a cappella history being made, John.
JOHN: And from an all-female group, Gail. I could never have called this one.
GAIL: Never. Well, you are a misogynist at heart, so there’s no way you would have bet on these girls to win.
JOHN: Absolutely.
JESSE: I told you, endings are the best part
BECA: You’re such a weirdo
Final thoughts and fun facts
I can’t actually tell you how many times I’ve seen this film, as a vocalist it makes my little musical heart so very happy. When I was in secondary school my friends and I would watch this at sleepovers and sing all of the songs (we were in a band together).
Upon seeing the title, Adam Devine thought that the film was a baseball movie, and thus wasn’t prepared to sing a song at his audition. The producers told him to sing any song, and he chose the Full House (1987) theme song. They were impressed and he was hired as the role of Bumper.
The storyline between Bumper and Fat Amy was not in the script. Adam Devine and Rebel Wilson would improvise during their scenes together. This led to them creating a backstory for the two characters and their relationship. The filmmakers thought the hostile, sexual chemistry between the two was funny and kept some of the scenes in the film, though according to the two actors, there was a lot that was cut out, including a reference to a one-night stand.
The film’s three leads, Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, are all left-handed. This isn’t a particularly fun fact, but as a left-handed person, it makes me happy.
When the Bellas ditch their uniforms for the final performance, each member incorporates the gold scarf into their new outfits: Becca, Amy, Cynthia Rose, Jessica and Ashley wear the scarf on their wrist; Aubrey and Denise tie it around their necks and Lilly and Chloe appear to have extras as Lilly has one tied around her microphone and in her back pocket and Chloe wears the scarf as a belt (which appears to be two scarves tied together).
I absolutely adore this film, but I really didn’t like the sequels. I may revisit them at some point for reviews as I’ll probably have a lot of comments for them, but I’m not promising anything.
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