# Rebel Wilson's 'Girl Group' is derivative pop nonsense

> Wilson's directorial follow-up lacks originality, humor, and narrative drive.
- Title: Rebel Wilson's 'Girl Group' is derivative pop nonsense
- Summary: Wilson's directorial follow-up lacks originality, humor, and narrative drive. Wilson's second directorial effort, written entirely by her, fails to generate…
- Keywords: rebel wilson, girl group, film review, directorial debut, screenwriting, comedy, pop culture, Rebel, Wilson's, 'Girl, Group', derivative
- Source: The Hollywood Reporter — https://hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/girl-group-review-rebel-wilson-1236703423
- Author: David Rooney
- Published: 2026-09-16T17:27:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rebel wilson, girl group, film review, directorial debut, screenwriting, comedy, pop culture
## Wilson's first film got a pass
Her 2024 directorial debut 'The Deb' was well-received, adapted from an Australian stage musical by one of its original authors.
## This time, Wilson goes solo
For 'Girl Group,' Wilson writes, directs, and stars without adapting pre-existing material, creating original content from scratch.
## The result is derivative and unfunny
The film is another 'Pitch Perfect' knockoff, a thrown-together collection of familiar ideas that are painfully unfunny and narratively weak.

> another ersatz Pitch Perfect, a thrown-together grab bag of familiar ideas both painfully unfunny and narratively anemic
## Pop nostalgia can't save it
The film relies primarily on charm-deficient pop nostalgia for whatever appeal it might have, which isn't much.
## It makes you reconsider 'Spice World'
The film is so uninspired that viewers find themselves wondering if the 1997 Spice Girls movie was actually better.

> Was Spice World really that bad?
## Key takeaway

Wilson's second directorial effort, written entirely by her, fails to generate laughs or compelling storytelling despite relying on pop nostalgia.