THE STORY – On the cusp of graduation, the members of USC’s celebrated SoCal VoCals have one more challenge to conquer before adulthood: The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in New York City.
THE CAST – Tiffany Galaviz, Yohanna Bauerdorf, Sam Avila, Dylan Beck, Janina Colucci, Lily Castle, Danika Eustaquio, Chloe Gardner, Claudia Bennett, Katherine Nerro, Jillian Batt, Matt Weaver, Mateo Gonzales, Maddi Lasker, Zoe Upkins & Raymond Ortiz
THE TEAM – Abraham Troen & Angelique Molina (Directors)
THE RUNNING TIME – 93 Minutes
If you had a good experience in college, it’s easy to look back on that time with rose-colored glasses. The discoveries made, the friendships forged, the formative experiences had — it’s a time of learning both in and out of the classroom, which can transform a person in just four years. The new documentary “Just Sing” explores a very specific slice of collegiate life—namely, the University of Southern California’s acapella group, the SoCal VoCals. Directors Angelique Molina and Abraham Troen paint a portrait with the energy and unbridled enthusiasm typically found in these types of singing groups. There’s no cynicism allowed here. While that earnestness is admirable, the film’s narrow perspective and unquestioning affection for its subject matter offer little to viewers not already bought into the art form. But for those who love a cappella, it’s sure to be a riveting, inspiring watch.
The documentary follows the VoCal-ists during an uber-important time for the a cappella group. They’re competing in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), the international a cappella competition that — as the film points out — was brought to even greater recognition by “Pitch Perfect.” It wasn’t an invented competition for the film; it was a very real, very merciless tournament, with several qualifying regional rounds before the final stage of the competition in New York City. As shown in this documentary, the VoCals work hard to present the best performance package possible to wow the judges.
Putting aside the fact that watching young singers hyper-fixate on art and performance as competition is inherently upsetting, the passion that they exhibit is incredible. It occasionally verges on grating, like talking to an overly perky coworker before the caffeine has kicked in. But it’s hard to begrudge these students for putting their entire being into an artistic endeavor with uncomplicated joy. After all, they could be funneling that energy into, say, crypto.
To make the film more personal, the documentarians highlight a small number of the performers, following them to their homes and interviewing their families. Unlike the similar method used by “American Idol,” this tries to make the audience feel even more connected to the singers. However, there isn’t much narrative follow-through from the directors. These personalized asides away from the main storyline are pleasant but are barely tied into the overarching story in a way that makes them feel connected to the film as a whole. Overall, the documentary’s structure and execution are incredibly standard. In fact, how the film dutifully follows the singers through the various qualifying regional performances of the ICCA resembles a shortened season of “Glee,” but with even less artistic or cinematic flair.
The documentary’s most powerful moment comes not from highlighting one individual performer but from watching the group come together to sing Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” The half-century-old lyrics take on unexpected resonance with this group of young folks, all of whom express trepidation for the future, both personally and politically. As one of them puts it, “I don’t wanna be one of those people who says ‘I sang in college.'” Performing is, collectively, their life, and the bonds they’ve created with their fellow singers are just as important as any one moment they experience on stage. They represent a hopeful vision of the future, but “Just Sing” isn’t incisive enough to present them in as impactful a light as they deserve.
