Elizabeth Banks, C’96. At Penn, she was Elizabeth Mitchell, the theatre-obsessed, Comm-majoring Tridelt. The one who met her future husband the first day of freshman NSO at an AEPi party. The one who’s now our most famous alumna in Hollywood.
Banks and her hubby Max Handelman co-produced the first installment of Pitch Perfect aca-phenomenon, in which she was also a star. She added to her brag sheet the role of director for the sequel, and without providing a full review, we can confidently say it’s just as much fun as its predecessor. Most notably, we loved some subtle and not-so-subtle references to Penn in Banks’ collegiate a capella-themed directorial debut:
PENN MASALA
The most overt and exciting bone Banks threw Penn was providing Penn Masala with a legit Quaker cameo at the world championship. There are some extreme close-ups of the Indian a capella superstars, and from what we could hear under the Penn student screams, they slayed. The group has a different name in the film, as they represent India in the competition, but they’re credited by name in the closing credits.
FEMALES ARE STRONG AS HELL
And we don’t just say that because Ellie Kemper of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt visited campus on Tuesday. Banks and screenwriter Kay Cannon take a decidedly more feminist approach to the Barton Bellas’ journey this time around, which adds yet another layer of freshness to the film. Think less cliché romance where the guy is in charge and more lady bonding –complete with a Beyonce tribute.
WILDERNESS RETREATS
A lot of this female bonding takes place during a wilderness retreat in the woods, where the Bellas bond over various outdoorsy activities and uncomfortable sleeping conditions. We’re pretty sure Elizabeth Banks didn’t go on PennQuest, but woodsy getaways like these sound familiar – and we know from our 2012 interview that Banks based the Bellas initiation scene off of hers in Friars.
BELLAS HOUSING
We're not saying the gorgeous mansion the Bellas live in (complete with plush furniture, grand wooden staircases and close proximity to a pond) is a reference to Castle's luxurious accommodations. But who's to say that it's not? We're looking at you, Banks.
IN CONCLUSION
We’re proud of Banks’ Penn-centric take on Pitch Perfect. The film is jam packed with the old cast, plus a slew of new faces. Look out for high profile cameos during both the opening and closing a capella performances. Stay during the credits for a bonus sequence featuring the music from one other legendary alumnus. (Hint: his Pitch Perfect-inspired reality show is about to commence.)
