Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - A

Quick Hit: Fun, inventive, different, and overall just a pleasure to watch.

​There truly are movies for everyone, and then there are movies that are a bit more niche. Before I begin to blast off and fly with all my compliments on Scott Pilgrim, I just want to warn readers that this isn’t going to be for everyone. There is enough there that most will see some humor, some will see some love, and all will see a parody of video games and comic books that is done lovingly and with care. So with that disclaimer, on to THE NEXT ROUND!

Let’s just give a quick wrap up of the story. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a lovable loser (does Michael Cera really play any other kind of character – besides his hilarious This is the End 

turn). He plays the bass in a band, Sex Bob-omb, and has recently been dumped by Envy, who went on to become a rock star. He is now dating (ish) Knives (Ellen Wong), a seventeen year old. That is until his world is rocked by the arrival of Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead – who is becoming a very fun, talented actress by the way). It’s literally the girl of his dreams, and now he must fight her seven evil exes in order to take her home.

Does it sound ridiculous? Probably, and that’s because it’s based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley (the comic themes run pretty deep in this film). The movie also pays homages to lots of video games throughout. If you are a comic book and video game junkie (especially one that grew up in the late eighties and early 

nineties), you will probably enjoy lots of the film. It takes the concepts such as power ups, experience points, coins, and extra lives and works them seamlessly into the plot, all the while creating a stylish effects show that is incredibly enjoyable.

In the hands of most filmmakers, this movie probably would have become a giant failure. Instead, the movie was made by Edgar Wright, the director/writer of such classics as Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. He is so adept at making imaginative movies that pay homage to things that it almost boggles the mind. He can direct his actors into perfect humor, while maintaining the emotion that is necessary for movies to succeed. Here, he gives you effects (and sound bubbles – POW!) at exactly the correct moments, while still leaving time for the film to breath in others.

The acting in this film is near perfect. Michael Cera (as previously mentioned) plays the character that he is typecast for. Lots of other reviewers knocked him for this, but it’s something that the likes of Woody Allen and Rick Moranis made a career out of – the self-pitying loser. He plays Scott with the perfect amount of believability and outrageousness, while never forgetting the heart that is the reason this picture was a success. Along with Cera, there are wonderful turns by many members of the supporting cast. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Ramona as aloof but damaged, as emotional but distant, and most of all, desirable. The audience understands why Scott would chase after her and put up with the beatings he endures – it’s to truly honor her, not just to win her affections.

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The other members of the supporting cast include Jason Schwartzmann (as just a perfect evil boss), Chris Evans (parodying himself as an action hero), Brandon Routh as a psychic Vegan, Alison Pill and Mark Weber as Scott’s fellow band members, Kieran Culkin as Wallace, Scott’s roommate… the list goes on. There were a lot of funny people attached to this project, and it shows. I think it’s fun that two comic book veterans, Chris Evans and Brandon Routh, both signed on to this project. There must have been a lot of love on set for the source material.

And, ya know... the chance to act like this.
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It’s interesting to me that I enjoyed this movie so much because it is one of the few comic book movies that I knew just about nothing about. Most of the time I’m intimately familiar with literature before moving into the film. But this movie, that could have been an effects-driven masterpiece, instead is parlayed into a fantastic emotion driven masterpiece. It teaches people about what is important - not just love, but true self-respect. I cannot say enough about this film. I loved just about every minute of it, and I’m ashamed it took me six years from release to get around to it, despite its growing cult status. Don’t make the same mistake as me. FINISH HIM and watch it today!

This movie gets six one-ups, star power, a gold medal, and an “A+”.

Check out IMDB for more on this film.