"USC's SoCal VoCals face their final pre-graduation test at New York's International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella."

OUR DOCUMENTARY REVIEW:

Over the last few decades, show choir has experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to the TV show Glee and the Pitch Perfect film series. As fun and rewarding as the extracurricular activity can be, each franchise’s comedic approach has undermined the emotional and physical toll students face. In the new documentary Just Sing, there’s a conscious effort to make sure all the hard work and stress share the spotlight equally alongside the glory. The result is just as worthy of your applause.

Directed by Angelique Molina and Abraham Troen, Just Sing primarily focuses on the University of California’s SoCal VoCals. The team is noteworthy for being the only group to win the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) five times - all in less than the 30 years they’ve been around. It’s the most prestigious prize in all of college a capella, with the chance to change lives by opening doors to numerous opportunities in the entertainment business. The film follows one recent graduating class of hungry, talented vocalists as they compete to win for an unprecedented sixth time.

The film is told in three sections, exploring the group’s preparation for the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the finals. It’s explained early on that for the first two performances the group is only allowed to choose one song. This is where the documentary shines, as it really goes in depth about the science of a capella. For example, not only should the song be friendly to every member’s voice, it needs to also carry a message the group believes in and wants to share. 

For the quarterfinals, they agree on having one of their Latinx members sing a mashup of two Rosalia songs, “A Ningún Hombre” and “Di Mi Nombre.” Both of which roughly translate to “To No Man” and “Of My Name.” The final performance doubles as a message about a woman reclaiming her power, but it can also be interpreted as the young group’s intention on breaking the cycle and taking power back from the men who hold it. Glee could never.

Between celebrating their first two victories and preparing for the final performance, the film introduces the audience to several of the group’s key members. This is both a pro and con for the film because not all the characters are compelling. As in any sport, some people want to succeed more than others. Some have better reasons that they should make it. Others are just there for the ride. That is where the film sort of loses its footing. While the inclusion of so many voices paints a picture of just how diverse the team’s talent, passion and personalities are, the main focus gets drowned out. But it’s literally the same problem both Glee and Pitch Perfect had. The story begins to focus more on the individual characters - and not the group, which is why everyone is watching in the first place. After all, as the film proves, the soloist is nothing without their support.

Interestingly enough, the issue feels like a symptom of the format. There’s only so much story to be told in 90 minutes. This could easily be adapted into a Hard Knocks-esque docuseries. If it weren’t a documentary, there would be more time to focus on all of the characters. With Molina and Troen clearly more interested in the art, rather than drama, there’s no doubt that approach would strike a much better chord.

Just Sing isn’t Pitch Perfect, but in this case that’s not bad. Set to a stellar a capella soundtrack, it’s an electric, informative crowd-pleaser. While it may be a little overloaded, it’s hard not to sit back and still enjoy the journey. After all, the journey is the best part. And even some of the songs we love to revisit feature a chorus that’s sung one too many times.