Pitch Perfect (2012)

2/5

Pitch Perfect is a movie firmly rooted in one point in time: now. I realized while watching it that there will never be a repeat viewing that I enjoy as much as this initial one. The problem is that much of the film's excitement stems from their covers and mash-ups of the current top 40 hit songs. In a few years, people won't even remember some of these songs--the whole movie will lose what little edge and relevance it can claim as its own. It's already a film version of the fad known as Glee, so what hope does it have of standing on its own in the future?

Granted, it's not a bad movie. There's plenty of humor to go around. Rebel Wilson, whose character first horrified me in Bridesmaids, is growing on me as the (incredibly bright) future of comedy. Anna Kendrick does a great job with what she's given. But what she was given was a mediocre script and unimaginative dialogue. A lot of the humor is awkward or misguided and the jokes fall flat, which is probably the most embarrassing thing that can be said of any form of comedy. The songs are catchy and performed well, but most will have no staying power. All in all, this is a forgettable film that fails to impress on any but the most basic qualities of entertainment.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981677/

Bridesmaids (2011)

4/5

Bridesmaids is easily the funniest movie I've seen this year. Like Knocked Up and The Hangover, the humor is raunchy bordering on vulgar. And best of all, it is non-stop. The movie is about preparing for a wedding. More specifically, it is about how all the pre-wedding traditions (dress-fitting, bridal shower, bachelorette party) get butchered by the maid of honor. Annie (Wiig) is the awkward but kindhearted best friend, too exaggerated to be a real person but genuine enough that her downfalls can pull at your heartstrings. Lillian (Rudolph) is the bride-to-be, caught between the nostalgia of her humble past and the allure of a lavish wedding. Annie is, of course, the maid of honor, but after a few botched jobs, the friends have a falling out and Lillian's new best friend Helen (Byrne) takes over the wedding planning.

I neglected to mention the rest of the cast, all unique and memorable. But the one that stands out the most is the groom's sister Megan (McCarthy). She is amazing. She carries the humor and the heart in this movie as much as Kristen Wiig does. She absolutely blew me away. Her character and her portrayal adds a whole new dimension to the movie that elevates this film above most other modern comedies. I loved her.

As for the technical aspects of the movie, I was impressed that the cinematography and editing was not terrible, but not actually impressed with it at all. The writing, as you can tell by my profuse praise of the comedy in the film, is right on point. The actors add impeccable timing to make this film a riot. The story is a good length and it touches on some finer points of friendship and female-female interactions that I didn't think it would touch on. When it comes to movies, Bridesmaids has just about the whole package. I recommend it 100%.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478338/