Pitch Perfect
Directed by: Jason Moore
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Alexis Knapp
Kendrick arrives on the college campus run by her father. To keep him happy she's agreed to put her dreams of becoming a DJ on hold while she attends classes. Reluctantly, she joins "The Bellas", an all-female acappella group who compete in regional tournaments, usually twarted by their male counterparts, "The Treblemakers".
Two minutes into 'Pitch Perfect', my fellow hacks and I were groaning at the prospect of a two-hour comedy set in the world of competitive acappella. Halfway through we realized we were having a good time, some of us even tapping our feet. 'Pitch Perfect' is a fun yet clever comedy in the vein of 'Mean Girls', one of those rare movies you could watch with your twelve year old daughter without wanting to blow your brains out.
At times, the almost surreal humor gives it the feel of a Muppet movie, just without the Muppets. In a tiny role, Hana Mae Lee steals the show as a hilarious cross between Beaker and a sociopath.
Like most comedies today, it's twenty minutes too long but you could do a lot worse than 'Pitch Perfect'.
6/10
Night Claws
Directed by: David A. Prior
Starring: Frank Stallone, Leilani Sarelle, Sherrie Rose, Ted Prior, David Campbell
Frankie Go Boom
Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O'Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth
A ferocious Bigfoot is terrorizing the woods on the outskirts of a small community.
Sometimes, the only thing better than a good Bigfoot movie is a bad Bigfoot movie. 'Night Claws' is one of the worst. It's also hugely enjoyable.
Fans of trash cinema will know director Prior from his 1987 classic 'Deadly Prey', a movie so outrageous it simply has to be seen to be believed. The movie has gathered a legion of fans who have been crying out for a sequel. With 'Night Claws', Prior has made something of a concession, reuniting the hero and villain of 'Deadly Prey', Campbell and the director's brother Ted. There's also a punch the air moment when a character mentions "Mike Danton", the central character of the '87 film.
This film is ineptitude at it's most enjoyable. The acting is roundly awful, the dialogue hilariously bad and the editing is so clumsy that actors can be seen preparing their lines before they speak them. Most viewers will lose patience after the first scene but if you can appreciate those lightning in a bottle moments when passion and naivete meet ineptitude, you'll have a blast with 'Night Claws'.
Good news for 'Deadly Prey' fans, it's sequel, 'Deadliest Prey', is already in post-production.
6/10
Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O'Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth
As a child, Frankie (Hunnam) was constantly harassed by his older brother (O'Dowd) who caught everything on camera. Now, as grown-ups, things haven't changed. Following a one night stand with Caplan, Hunnam finds himself the subject of an internet video sensation, thanks to being secretly filmed by his brother.
It would appear to be time to call quits on the American indie comedy. We've seen a string of interchangeable films that rely far too heavily on "quirkiness" to get by. 'Frankie Go Boom' is just the latest to sit alongside 'Safety Not Guaranteed', 'Why Stop Now' and 'Jesus Henry Christ', to name but three cookie-cutter comedies we've suffered through in 2012.
Roberts' film is painfully unfunny, despite the talented ensemble. His idea of comedy is to have Perlman appear in drag. Seriously? Is this 1934? Comedy is the most difficult genre to pull off so why do so many inexperienced film-makers try their hand at it?
3/10
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