Scott Pilgrim Vs the World (2010)
Written by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall
Adapted from Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novels by Brian Lee O’Malley
Released by Universal
5 Out of 5 Stars
Oh boy did this movie surprise me. It really did; I’ll make no joke about it, I don’t like Michael Cera. When that’s the only credit I actually recognize besides Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the mock trailer for Don’t in front of Grindhouse), I honestly didn’t go into this expecting much, let alone because reviewers that I trust were split down the middle (Brad Jones AKA The Cinema Snob,and Noah Antwiler AKA The Spoony One) I was cautious. Let's just say, out of all of the movies to come out this year: this movie surprised me the most.
First off a little background: Scott Pilgrim was a series of digest style comic books to come out over the span of the last six years. It was written and drawn by Brian Lee O’Malley (To date the only book I have read is Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life). The style of the books is simple and cartoonish, borrowing heavily from Japanese Manga artists such as Kiyohiko Azuma, and Osamu Tezuka. Having read only the first volume I’m not about to review that part until I finish them. But for a basis I did enjoy the first volume and found it cute. Its humor is very hit and miss, and often times can only be understood in the subcultures the books are aimed at really. But over all I liked it and I am looking forward to when I can get my hands on the last four volumes. After the first volume was published, the publisher Oni Press (a Oregon based company) contacted Marc Platt to talk about a film adaptation, which the writer of the novels was a little put off about stating:
"Expected them to turn it into a full-on action comedy with some actor that I hated...I didn’t even care. I was a starving artist, and I was like, 'Please, just give me some money.'"
He was actually pleasantly surprised at the end result, though he did say no material from Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour the last volume of the book made it into the movie. This seems to be a growing trend with Comic book and Book movies, though where a studio will snatch up the rights to a book as soon as it’s done being published. I can’t comment on that because well looking at the two movies that are like that Kick Ass and this film, it’s pretty damn good thing to do, though it does leave me scratching my head and saying “Are we giving up on thinking about original ideas?”
So, I’ve given you a lot of details about the production, the comics, almost everything. But what about the movie? Well, the movie stars Michael Cera in the titular role of Scott Pilgrim (which again made me pause and think maybe I shouldn’t go to see this, but in the end they made a pretty good choice in the casting), a twenty two year old high school graduate who is a drift in that stage before really being grown up and still being a teenager (fun fact, in the book Pilgrim is actually twenty three). He plays bass for an indie rock band Sex Bob-Omb (seriously picture Dennis Hopper’s King Koopa from Super Mario Bros the movie saying that and tell me you don’t laugh). He is very much the archetypical slacker, who is going out with a Chinese high school student Knives Chau played by Ellen Wong (her first major film role might I add), who is very much an innocent naïve character who deserves better than Pilgrim gives her. The relationship is seen as what it is, a ‘safe’ relationship that he is comfortable in but nothing too serious. Things get complicated when Scott starts having dreams about a pink haired delivery girl named Romona V. Flowers portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winestead. Scott gets way in over his head as he finds out that the girl of his dreams is real, he pursues her only to find out that she has seven evil exes that he has to defeat.
That is the basic premise to this movie, and the books. While it seems simple, the shear amount of things that I can compliment just astounds me. So here goes:
The fights are well paced and choreographed, you can clearly see who is fighting in each and every fight, plus they stick a whole lot of video game references into these small fights which seems to extend it but keep you interested at the same time. In a time where films are too concerned with getting you in the action Scott Pilgrim lets you be the spectator, which is as it should be for a movie of this type.
The sheer amount of referential humor is a plus and a negative in my book and is probably why some people decide to pan it instead of enjoying it. The movie spends a lot of time relishing in the fact that it’s made for such a small part of the audience that it can be lost on some people who have not been fans of these types of media. It’s a plus in the fact that I am part of the crowd it’s aimed at, I enjoyed and often times laughed at a lot of the genuinely funny parts.
Scott’s best friend Wallace Wells played Kieran Culkin (younger brother of Macaulay Culkin), is one of the first and only non flamboyant gay characters I have seen; this is refreshing and you honestly believe that he embodies the character he’s playing. A lot of people are saying “yeah but that’s the only character trait he has” to which I say no, he’s portrayed as a very caring friend, a flirtatious man chaser, and a deep and thoughtful character. One of my favorite scenes in the books and movies is where Scott is talking about Romona for the first time; I won’t spoil it but it seemed like a very cute scene to me.
Now on to the negatives. While the stylizing choice of it is inventive and all out fun, it can be frustrating and it often times reminded me of Speed Racer, which is not a bad thing but is sometimes grating. If you are prone to seizures I’m not sure if this is a film for you. The ending seemed not to want to make up its mind really and seems a little rushed for the film but considering there are two endings to the film (one that is in the theatrical cut and one I’m sure will make it into the DVD), I guess it’s to be expected.
All in all, with those minor flaws I really recommend this film, on the caution that if you go to see this and don’t enjoy it, please don’t blame me. I really believe this to be the first cult classic of the ‘10’s. It’s not for everyone but it is an experience. I could honestly wax and wane on this film for longer but that is pretty much all I have to say about it. Uf you want to talk about it, I’m willing to. But I won’t let this drag on forever
Ciao
DarthThought
