Quite a few people recommended this story of a college women's a cappella singing group so Amy, Jack, and I watched it on-demand Christmas eve. We were not impressed. A few laughs here and there but oh, so dumb. Nominated for Favorite Comedic Movie at the People's Choice Awards and on some Best of the Year lists? Hmm. Anna Kendrick (last in these pages in 50/50) is a good actress but she is squandered here, though she really can sing (Tony-nominated for High Society on Broadway in 1998 when she was 13). She and Rebel Wilson (I don't remember her in Bridesmaids but she is a funny, overweight, outspoken, Australian kid) are the most redeeming parts of the movie. Brittany Snow (most recently blogged in The Vicious Kind) tries really hard. The rest of the girls are just annoying. Elizabeth Banks (People Like Us) is one of the movie's producers and she and John Michael Higgins (the inspector in We Bought a Zoo) mug furiously as competition narrators.
Director Jason Moore makes his feature debut after nine TV episodes of various series. Kay Cannon (co-writer of twelve 30 Rocks and two New Girls) also debuts adapting the book by Mickey Rapkin, himself a magazine writer/editor (GQ, Elle, Bon Appetit). All three of us watching would have liked it to have fewer stupid gags and more singing. It's probably not useful information, but there is a tiny little audio bonus at the very end and outtakes as the credits begin. Contrary to pattern, we don't recommend it but it's doing very well--80% critics, 84% audience on rottentomatoes and 24th at the box office after 13 weeks.
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