Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a fast-paced, visually stunning comedy from start to finish. This is a sensory overload of over-the-top brawls, hilarious laugh-out-loud moments, and top-notch acting from an ensemble cast.
A comic book movie that is actually a comic book movie
Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a conniving lady-killer who is lost in his own selfishness. He is dating a 17-year old high-schooler just to avoid responsibility. Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) follows him around as if she were his groupie. The ever-so needy Knives always shows up when Scott rehearses with his band, Sex BoB-Omb. When the drummer (Alison Pill), Scott's jilted ex, starts hitting those sticks and begins counting in the opening sequence, the audience automatically knows what kind of movie they're getting into.
Though he is surrounded by friends, Scott still feels utterly lonely. Suddenly, he meets the love of his life in his dreams. Then at a party with his bandmates, he literally sees the girl of his dreams passing by. Who is this girl with pink hair? She is Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an American girl who just moved to Canada. She also happens, by the way, to work for Amazon. Scott orders something cool from Amazon so that when she shows up at his doorstep, he can ask her out.
Ramona and Scott slowly start dating, just as he loses interest in Knives. At a Battle of the Bands contest, Scott unintentionally finds Knives and Ramona in the same room together. When the band starts playing, the ceiling collapses and out comes Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha). Matthew is the first of Ramona's Seven Evil Exes, who want to control Ramona's love life. In an energetic battle that would make any videogamer proud, Scott defeats Matthew, turning him into coins.
Scott discovers that in order to date Ramona, she must defeat each of her evil exes. As Ramona, Mary Elizabeth Winstead perfectly plays a young woman that any man would fight for. Next up for Scott is the Ramona's evil ex, action star Lucas Lee. In order to defeat Lucas Lee (played by the hilarious Chris Evans), Scott must go through his stunt team first. The funniest lines during these two battles come from Scott's roommate Wallace (Kieran Culkin).
Suddenly this becomes too much to handle
Soon the relationship worth risking your life for begins to falter. Scott has to deal with his ex, rock star Envy Adams, and her new boyfriend. Her new boy toy is also Ramona's ex, Todd, who also has psychic powers. Brandon Routh is exceptionally hilarious is in battle scenes, which also includes a frenetic bass battle.
Suddenly, Scott doesn't realize why he should be with Ramona if he is going to end up dead. Ramona then reunites with the devilish Gideon (Jason Schwartzman), who orchestrated the League of Seven Evil Exes to ruin their relationship. Wallace tells Scott that he has to break out the L-word if he wants to win back with Ramona. And no, it's not "lesbian," for crying out loud.
This highly original movie is based on the six Scott Pilgrim graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The comics were also a commentary about the 90s alternative music, which is why Scott wears a Zero shirt, also worn by rock musician Billy Corgan. Bryan Lee O'Malley must be a Smashing Pumpkins fan because he named one of his books, Scott Pilgrim vs. The Infinite Sadness. In the movie, rock artist Beck even did the music for Sex Bob-Omb band.
This movie will save your soul
Who could have made this visual feast? Edgar Wright, the director of Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz; that's who. He also created Spaced, a television series that delightfully parodied popular culture. One could probably say that this is the giant-sized Spaced episode Wright has been dying to make.
This is a date movie secretly disguised as a comic book movie. A definite must see for movie fans. Though it's a little tad early, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is one of the best films of 2010.
Jorge Solis - Born and raised in New York, Jorge Solis graduated Sigma Tau Delta from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, with a B.A. in Communications ...
