Anna Kendrick Belts Out Musical ‘The Last Five Years’

Sandra Miska

February has always been a big month for romantic movies, and this month is shaping up to be no exception.  For those of you who prefer their love stories several shades less raunchy than “Fifth Shades of Gray,” “The Last Five Years” would be an entertaining alternative.  This musical features Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan as a former couple who tell their respective versions of their failed marriage through song.

“The Last Five Years” is adapted from the 2002 off-Broadway musical of the same name written by Jason Robert Brown.  Kendrick plays Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress who tells her story in reverse order, beginning with the end of the marriage.  Her novelist husband Jamie Wellerstein’s (Jordan) story is told in chronological order.

The musical was released not without controversy.  The story was inspired by Brown’s own failed marriage, and after his displeased former wife threatened legal action, he was forced to make rewrites in order to reduce the similarities between Cathy and his ex.

Anna Kendrick is no stranger to musicals.  Before moving to Los Angeles, she performed in a number of Broadway shows.  She previously showed off her powerful pipes to moviegoers in “Pitch Perfect” and “Into the Woods.”  “Pitch Perfect 2” is set to be released in May.

In a recent interview with Time, Kendrick explained why she keeps doing musicals, despite the risk of being pigeonholed:

“After doing Pitch Perfect, I didn’t expect to do other musicals, but then I was offered The Last Five Years and Into the Woods, which are two of the greatest pieces of theater that I can think of. So obviously, I wasn’t going to be like, “Oh I’m trying to really stay away from musicals right now, so thanks but I’ll pass.” When certain opportunities come along you throw the rules out the window.”

Kendrick’s co-star Jeremy Jordan may be a newcomer to the silver screen (his only other feature credit is a role in the 2012 musical “Joyful Noise”), but he has had an expansive theatre career, with roles in productions of “West Side Story,” “Newsies” and “Bonnie & Clyde”.

“The Last Five Years” will be released in theaters and on video on-demand February 13.