Pitch Perfect is a clever and amusing comedy from director Jason Moore and screenwriter Kay Cannon. Based on Mickey Rapkin’s book, the film revolves around collegiate a cappella competitions and their participants.

Beca (Anna Kendrick) loathes having to attend Barden University as a freshman. She would much rather be In L.A pursuing her dream of being a singer, song-writer, and arranger. The only reason she enrolled at Barden is because her father bribed her into going. He told her he would keep her financially afloat while she pursued her dream, but only if she gave the university a shot for a year and joined at least one social club on campus.

Meanwhile, the Barden Bellas are coming off a humiliating season where they lost out on a spot in a national a cappella competition due to lead singer Aubrey’s (Anna Camp)tremendous anxiety, which caused a highly embarrassing incident involving the judges during a semi-final competition.

Now that several members have either graduated or defected as a result of that unfortunate event, Aubrey and band-mate Chloe (Brittany Snow) are desperate to sign up anyone with a passable singing voice. Beca denies her ability to sing when approached by Chloe and Aubrey during her first day of school when the university’s various clubs were trying to recruit new members.

Beca is startled the next day to find a completely nude Chloe bursting into her shower stall having heard her belt out part of "Titanium" which happens to be her favorite song. Chloe staunchly refuses to depart until Beca sings the remaining verses, thus beginning her reluctant involvement with the Bellas. Beca must also deal with Jesse (Skylar Astin) a co-worker from the campus radio station who relentlessly pursues her -- much to her chagrin. At the same time Aubrey, the self-appointed leader of the Bellas, despises Beca because of her superior singing voice, immense popularity, and a desire to replace Aubrey’s tired choreography and arrangements with some of her own in order to make it to nationals.

I agree with co-producer Elizabeth Banks that the role of Beca “required someone who was grounded, who has a strong point of view on the world, who is funny and empathetic and someone we can all relate to and root for -- and Anna Kendrick is all those things, so there was no other choice for the movie.”

I also enjoyed Snow’s strong performance and vocals. It’s easy to relate to her character’s plight about standing up for herself and the betterment of the group while grappling with a crippling physical condition that could destroy her dreams. Also, Rebel Wilson is hilarious as Fat Amy, a member of the Bellas, who wears her mind on her sleeve and says highly inappropriate things without thinking. 

Director Moore displays an uncanny ability to bring quirky characters to life, having helmed Broadway’s Avenue Q. He understands how to depict an obsession with a cappella without making fun of the art itself. 

I believe this film’s infectious, well-choreographed musical numbers will make audiences want to stand up and dance.

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated “PG-13” for sexual material, language and drug references.)