Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Official Synopsis

Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Oni Press comic book of the same name, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World follows the eponymous slacker rocker on his colourful quest to defeat his dream girl’s seven evil ex-boyfriends.

Review

Finally, I’ve got to see Scott Pilgrim… after two botched starts (a preview and a press screening both missed because we drove to the wrong theatre!) But, we got there in the end! It’s fair to say Scott Pilgrim hasn’t done too well in the US… the reviews have been great, but unfortunately it’s been trounced by Stallone’s Expendables. Finally after seeing it, I can see why.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a great movie (a far better made movie than The Expendables), unfortunately Scott Pilgrim caters to a very specific kind of audience. I’m taking about my kind of audience… the type as a teenager where we pledged our allegiance to either SNES or Megadrive (Genesis in the US), then of course then there was Playstation, N64 or Saturn. Now it’s PS3 vs. Xbox 360, I don’t include the Nintendo Wii because it’s a gimmick….. (you see!?? I still do it!!)

Scott Pilgrim is going to get trounced in every country its released, I think Edgar Wright knows this… will it be a cult classic?? Maybe, time will tell. Edgar Wright (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead) is the star of the show here; Scott Pilgrim fires along like a ferret on speed. Confidently and expertly directed, no other filmmaker out there could have strung together a film like this and make it coherent, or even watchable. You’ve got to understand… every shot is meticulously planned, every camera shift is calculated and for every camera shift actors are strategically placed and have to hit beats precisely at the perfect time. Fans of Will Ferrell adlibbed comedy need to look elsewhere, this is scripted and filmed to the dot, no room for manoeuvring here.  

Michael Cera is great as Scott Pilgrim, he maybe still in his comfort zone playing Scott but fuck it. Props have to go to him for his chorography work – the fights are stunning! Not since The Matrix have I seen fight scenes like this and Cera pulls them off flawlessly. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is given her chance to shine in the foreground in this flick and she certainly holds her own. Kieran Culkin as gay roommate Wallace Wells pretty much steals every scene he’s in and it’s nice actually seeing Culkin in a big studio film and looking like he’s enjoying it.

Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Anna Kendrick and Jason Schwartzman and some special cameos (which I won’t reveal here…. I am of course referring to the ‘Vegan Police’) they all excel in their supporting roles no matter how little their part maybe. Special mention must go to cinematographer Bill Pope because Scott Pilgrim looks beautiful, even when we’re not dazzled with special effects or hidden Easter eggs, Pilgrim is lit and shot beautifully. Even the more nuanced scenes between Pilgrim and Flowers literally pop off the screen and are handled with love and care.

As much as I enjoyed this Scott Pilgrim, it isn’t by any means perfect… I’ve got to admit not every joke worked and for the first fifteen minutes – I was actually starting to wonder what all the fuss was about!? But as soon as the first evil-ex makes his appearance the film quickly steps into gear and steams ahead at an almost relentless pace. Regardless, even if Scott Pilgrim doesn’t pull those box office numbers in, Edgar Wright, Cera and the rest of the cast and crew should hold their heads up high. The fact that they actually got the film made in the first place is an achievement itself!  

Scott Pilgrim is a kinetic, franticly paced film that’s catered to the hardcore geek, it may not be for everyone… but, if you’re looking for a fun romantic comedy with bleeding edge visuals, and cutthroat martial arts then give it a try.

**** (4 out of 5)