Pitch Perfect makes aca-mazing mouth music

When I saw this preview a few months back, I knew immediately that I had to see it. Not because it looked amazing or that it looked like a Glee knock off, but simply because it was a musical with an American Pie feel to it. A pre-screen pass fell into my lap and I grabbed the nearest girl and we went.

Pitch Perfect stars Anna Kendrick (Twilight) as Beca, an emotionally stunted freshman at Barden University, who would rather make music than speak to people. Striking an agreement with her father, Beca agrees to give university a try for one year, joining a club, making friends and at the end of the year, if she chooses, he’ll send her to LA pursue her music producing dreams.

With an ensemble of a strong female cast including Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp and Anna Camp, Pitch Perfect manages to be funny, well balanced, and witty with enough hilarity to keep even the male audience in stitches. But the show was stolen by Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids), whose one liners and self deprecating attitude turned this from something I liked to something I loved.

No movie about growth and self actualization would be complete without a bit of conflict and a love interest for Beca. Skylar Astin did a remarkable job of playing the adorable albeit pushy Jesse in trying to get her to open up and break down all the emotional walls.

As usual, the storyline (there actually was one) was predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. Pitch Perfect blended a series of pop songs without making it cheesy (like Glee) and they certainly weren’t afraid to stray into songs like Blackstreet’s No Diggity sang by the Bellas.

Don’t be an aca-loser, get out and see Pitch Perfect when it hits limited theatres on Friday September 28th. You’ll be aca-glad you did.



4 Rachel Berry’s out of 5 Kenickies.

images from google

Toronto's Fall Home Show presented by Scotiabank at the Better Living Centre

Renovate your life, design your life and style your life at Toronto's largest Fall Home Show presented by Scotiabank from Thursday, September 20 to Sunday, September 23 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place (151 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto), featuring more than 300 renovation and home décor specialists offering advice, solutions and inspiration for a wide array of home renovation and décor projects for your home.  

Don’t miss home décor and renovation celebrities and experts including:  Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott from W Network’s Property Brothers presented by Scotiabank;  Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, Toronto Star columnists and hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and Robin Lewis,  host of HGTV’s Reno  vs. Relocate on the Main Stage presented by HGTV.  

Visit Design Equations where Casalife and Benjamin Moore show you how to make the most of the space you have with design and décor solutions that make every inch count.  

SHOW DATES AND HOURS:
Thursday, September 20, 2012   11am to 9pm
Friday, September 21, 2012         11am to 9pm
Saturday, September 22, 2012   10am to 9pm
Sunday, September 23, 2012      10am to 6pm

ADMISSION:                                     
Adults: $15.00 at the door / $12.00 online
Senior (65+):  $13.00 at the door / $10.00 online
Children 13-17:  $13.00 at the door / $10.00 online
Children 12 years & Under: FREE

For stage schedules and tickets call 1-877-715-7469 or visit www.fallhomeshow.com.

P.S. Ashley will be on site all weekend working in the media office and would love it if you brought her tea. :)

images (c)Fall Home Show

Wednesday Night TV Guide

Supernatural (Premieres October 3 @ 9pm – CW)               

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles                               

Veronica will be the first to admit her weakness for the pretty boys and having watched this show from the beginning, she finds it hard to let go (sound familiar?). The last few seasons have been less than stellar but they boys still look good doing what they do, hunting and killing things.

We had rather hoped that season 7 would be the last but CW renewed it. And as they have, we will watch.

Why you should watch: The boys are pretty and sometimes there’s an episode where they poke fun of themselves that reminds us of why we fell in love with them in the first place. 

Suburgatory (Premieres October 17 @ 9:30 – ABC)
Starring: Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines

Comedic sitcoms don’t usually leave much of a cliff hanger at the end of their seasons, but even though there aren’t many unanswered questions pulling me back, I can’t wait to see what kind of obstacles are thrown in the way of Tessa’s struggle to adjust to suburban life of Chatswin.

Why you should watch: The show is about an angsty, sarcastic redhead. You’re not going to get much closer to seeing Ashley's life play out on screen than this.

American Horror Story: Asylum (Premieres October 17 @ 10 – FX)
Starring: Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe

Unlike the first season, which took place in a haunted mansion, season two of American Horror Story not only changes locations to an asylum, but sports a whole new characters list. Even the actors who return from the first season are playing different characters this time around. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how this unique situation plays out. Exciting new cast members for season two include Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Clea Duvall and Chloë Sevigny.

Why you should watch: Haunted houses, creepy ghost love, leather sex suits… season one set the bar pretty high for creepy and disturbing. How will Murphy top all that in season two?

Honourable Mentions

Modern Family Premieres September 26 @ 8pm – ABC
Survivor: Phillipines Premieres September 19 @ 8pm - CBS
Criminal Minds Premieres September 26 @ 9pm - CBS
Nashville Premieres October 10 @ 10pm - ABC

images from google

Tuesday Night TV Guide

The Mindy Project (Premieres September 25 @ 9:30pm – FOX)
Starring: Mindy Kaling, Chris Messina

Mindy Kaling stars as a successful OB/GYN who’s struggling to balance her personal and professional life and break her politically incorrect bad habits so she can become a more well-rounded perfect woman and meet the perfect guy.

Why we’re going to watch: Created by, produced by and starring Emmy Award-nominated writer/producer and New York Times best-selling author Mindy Kaling, this show boasts a pretty solid foundation. As one of the lead writers on The Office, Mindy has already proven she has what it takes to make a well rounded, entertaining show. 

Sons of Anarchy (Premieres September 11 @ 10pm – FX)
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Segal, Ron Perlman and Theo Rossi

It’s pretty safe to say that every girl out there has a thing for a man on a bike. There’s something just dangerous and unseemly about it that gets our motor running. This drama from the beginning has kept us glued to our tv’s as each episode unfolded and the Sons get further and further into trouble.

Our only complaint is the writers think everyone is dumb and they need to beat us over the head with the same thing over and over. Yeah, we get it. It’s history repeating itself. Move it along.

Why you should watch: Charlie Hunnam gets naked an awful lot.


Vegas (Premieres September 25 @ 10pm – CBS/Global)
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jason O’Mara and Michael Chiklis 

Vegas is another cop drama based loosely on former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb. Period pieces are always interesting and when you throw in a reluctant and surly cowboy, Veronica is sure to pay attention. Having already viewed the pilot, it does live up to its name. Admittedly, Vegas won’t win a wide appeal with the general audience but it does enough to hold its own.

Why you should watch: It’s different, interesting and has cowboys. COWBOYS!

Honourable Mentions

New Girl Premieres September 24 @ 9pm (one hour!) – FOX
Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 Premieres October 23 @ 9:30pm - ABC

images from google