Life is hard in a world where your love interest has seven evil ex-boyfriends. Such is the case for Scott Pilgrim, a 23 year old nerd rocker, who is currently dating a high school girl. His life suddenly changes after he falls for a roller blading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers, a girl who previously appeared in his dreams prior to their first encounter. What ensues in the next 112 minutes is a power struggle between Ramona’s seven evil ex boyfriends and Scott finding true happiness.
If the name didn’t ring a bell, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is based on the six-part Oni Press graphic novel series created by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Unfortunately I had not read the series prior to watching the film so if you are looking for judgement on how well the film mimics the comic you are in the wrong place. However, what can deliver is an unbiased verdict spoken in the voice of a true movie connoisseur.
I first heard of the film while watching a show on HDNet called Nothing But Trailers. A weekly segment that delivers exactly as the title suggests, a series a movie trailers played in a continuous loop with very little commentary. After seeing the trailer I knew that this was going to be a movie I would see the day it hit theaters. Now that I’ve seen the film and I’ve had time to digest here’s my take.
Based on storyline, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World lands somewhere between Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Juno when compared to Michael Cera’s previous work. Ultimately the movie is quite enjoyable and the plot provides enough entertainment value for the casual movie watcher to leave the theater quite happy. What really takes the film to the next level is the way it pays homage to gaming and the current generation of teenagers. The visuals and CGI create an eco system where live action can co-exist with the world of Street Fighter KO’s and Dragon Ball Z attacks.
The casting was excellent for the film and overall I felt the acting was top notch. The seven evil ex-boyfriends might be a slight exception, but the ones that bother me did not last long enough in the film to matter. My favorite performance was Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. You might remember Winstead from her role as Lucy McClane in Live Free or Die Hard, Lee in Death Proof or Ingrid Superstar in Factory Girl. Whether or not you’ve seen any or all of the aforementioned films, I believe Winstead delivers the knock out performance of the film.
I enjoyed Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, enough so that I plan on reading the graphic novels. While I don’t think I’ll ever be as entertained by Michael Cera as I once was watching Arrested Development, I believe there’s no other actor who can play the nerdy rocker as well. As a gamer and movie buff, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was money well spent and while it’s not as entertaining as Kick-Ass, I recommend giving it a shot.
GMR Blog Rating: 7.5/10
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1 Buy Now
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 2 Buy Now
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 3 Buy Now
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 4 Buy Now
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 5 Buy Now
Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 6 Buy Now
