7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Brittany Snow, Anna CampComedy | 100% |
Romance | 56% |
Teen | 47% |
Music | 14% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Pitch Perfect is Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story for the Glee set. Or the anti-Glee set even, and it's in that tricky middle that director Jason Moore's quasi-irreverent musical comedy sings. It's never quite the pitch-perfect genre mashup it could be -- oh come on, you knew that one was coming -- but it pays just enough respect to raw talent, takes just enough cheap but affectionate shots at the collegiate singing competition circuit, and strikes just enough of a balance to emerge a full-fledged crowd pleaser. Add to that a well-cast ensemble that knows how to earn a laugh and belt a song and a series of a cappella arrangements primed to convert the unconverted, and you have a comedy that deserves a shot.
"Starships were meant to fly-iy-iy-iy! Hands up and touch the sky-iy-iy-iy!"
Bright, vibrant and flashy, Pitch Perfect hits the stage with an intense, remarkably precise 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that never once disappoints. Colors are warm and vivid, primaries pop, skintones are beautifully saturated, black levels are deep and satisfying, and contrast is dialed in nicely and consistently. Detail is excellent too, even if it isn't always razor sharp or revealing to a fault. Edges are crisp and clean, textures are apparent and naturally resolved, and delineation delivers even when candlelight is all Beca and her fellow Bella pledges have to go on. Moreover, aside from some problematic red and purple stage-light and a slight bit of banding during the film's climactic singing competition, the encode is flawless. No macroblocking, aliasing, significant ringing or errant noise to report, and there's hardly any room for improvement.
It's all about the beats, beats, beats, and Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track doesn't miss a single note. LFE output is fierce and forceful. The rear speakers are tenacious and aggressive. The soundfield is enveloping and exhilarating... when the music kicks in. Otherwise, Pitch Perfect is a chatty, front-heavy comedy and little more. Dialogue is clear, intelligible and neatly prioritized -- no complaints here -- and the rest of the soundscape stays true to the film's sound design, leaving little to criticize other than the track's ambition (or lack thereof). When the downbeats start dropping, though? When the harmonies start unfolding? When the Bellas or the Treble Makers launch into their next great competition performance? You're in for a treat; one full of dynamic excellence, directional prowess and technical precision and proficiency. All in all, Pitch Perfect's lossless mix is engrossing, barring all those pesky conversations anchored at the center channel.
I didn't expect much from Pitch Perfect. Alright, alright. I was dreading it. Much to my surprise, though, I had a bit of a blast, which is saying a lot since Glee and its ilk leave me cold. Credit goes to Kendrick and her castmates, most all of whom are terrific and terrificly enthusiastic, and Moore, who finds a nice balance between a variety of competing elements, dangerously lopsided as that balance is at times. Universal's Blu-ray release is even more carefully balanced, with a top-marks video transfer, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and an entertaining suite of extras that include two audio commentaries and almost an hour of deleted, extended and alternate scenes and takes. Pitch Perfect isn't perfect, but it sure is a lot of fun. Give it a try. You might be as surprised as I was.
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