The film is set in the world of competitive college acapella singing groups and is directed by a man whose previous experience has been in TV shows such as Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill. So far, so unpromising. Furthermore, it can't really decide whether it wants to take the singing relatively serious or to be a Best in Show style pastiche of an unusual occupation, so we get relatively straightly done musical segments (aside from the odd outbreak of projectile vomiting) but with very tongue-in-cheek commentary provided by John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks. Elsewhere, there is an attempt to mix the usual romantic subplot, parental separation issues with touches of broader, even at times gross-out humour.
Out of all of this, the biggest surprise is that they've managed to produce a very likeable and above all funny film. Kendrick makes for an engaging leading lady, the musical sequences are very well handled (especially the riff-off about halfway through) and the gags keep coming. The humour is hit and miss, but there are far more hits than misses and probably something for everybody tastes. The established actors Higgins and Banks are poorest served by a script that leaves them little but weak innuendos until the finale, but a final killer out down by Banks almost makes up for that.
Not that the film is perfect - there are probably too many character arcs and subplots that just aren't given enough room - from the almost silent girl coming out of her shell, Kendrick's daddy issues and career aspirations as a music producer to the amateur magician and the Korean room-mate. Things have a tendancy of just happening without the audience seeing the intervening struggles.
Overall - 7/10 Tries to cram a lot in and be a lot of different things, but is done with enough energy, fun and humour to work more than it doesn't.
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