Inevitably, the popular idea behind the new vocal comedy Pitch Perfect triggers its comparison with other shows of the same timbre. However, the rioting humor and distinctive a-cappella style set this hilarious film apart.

Pitch Perfect is first and foremost a comedy. From the moment the first performance ends in orally projected disaster to the final quip by a pair of witty (if slightly misogynistic) announcers, the sharp humor provides constant entertainment for the audience. Rebel Wilson, who plays the shamelessly self-deprecating Fat Amy, hits every humorous note with confidence and without fail. Throughout the basic storyline drama, there is never a dull moment.

That being said, there is not much of a fresh storyline to speak of. The plot is hackneyed and overdone, and it is almost possible for viewers to predict the outcome of the movie without even watching it.

The film introduces Beca (Anna Kendrick): a cynical and “alternative” girl with a father who teaches at her university and a stepmother who she refers to as step-monster. Her dream is to become a disc jockey in L.A., and her laptop is filled with the mash-ups she mixes in her free time. Imagine her in the middle of Barden University, where the coolest club to join is one in which a group of boys, called the Treble Makers, sing and dance a-cappella. After a month of attending college without friends, Beca is pressured into joining the Barden Bellas, who have experienced quite a fall from popularity since an on-stage fiasco the previous year. The girls rehearse for hours but still perform no songs from the century, preferring to stick to prim and proper dance choreography with harmonious but stale vocals.

As a girl who is not afraid to speak her mind, Beca soon takes the reins and rather forcibly drags the group onto an entirely different soundtrack. The girls go up against the rival Treble Makers in a fast-paced riff-off and climb their way up the collegiate a-cappella rankings. From there, both groups end up in a predicament as they face a leadership crisis.

Of course, there has to be a love interest in the form of Jesse (Skylar Astin), who uses his goofy and persistent personality to try to get inside Beca’s bubble. But when he tries to get involved in her routine life, Beca’s people-shunning mechanisms start causing trouble for their budding romance.

All in all, Pitch Perfect presents no surprises and a predictable, unabashedly clichéd plot. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad with the comedy and cast of hilariously eccentric characters. Besides Fat Amy, the Bellas include a not-so-discreetly lesbian Cynthia Rose (Ester Dean), the uptight a-cappella-obsessed Aubrey (Anna Camp), and the somewhat terrifying Lilly (Hana Mae Lee), whose rare comments would likely create a riot if ever anyone heard what she was saying.

Together, the cast is able to produce unique renditions of popular modern music. Somewhat unrealistically, the odd group of people harmonizes stunningly well and sings impromptu with no prior preparation. The tones of each singer fit together seamlessly into back-up, melody, and a beat that anyone can dance to. Even some questionable song choices can be forgiven when viewers hear the a-cappella spin on each song. And though the Treble Makers should be the bratty rival boy group, their energetic choreography and vocals make them hard to hate.

While its overdone themes alone would make the film forgettable, some quick-wittedly droll lines, such as those involving “horizontal running,” “crystal meth,” and “I’ve been shot!” may be difficult to forget for some time to come. Besides being a breezy watch, Pitch Perfect definitely earns the title of “aca-awesome.”