Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Scott Pilgrim

The Scott Pilgrim Gang

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Meet Scott Pilgrim the Video Game Comic Book Film Version!

If your film appetite fancies originality, wild action, random dialogue, teen garage band music, dazzling visual effects and video games-you’d be hard pressed to find a more perfect film than Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Unlike (Watchmen 2009) another fiercely anticipated comic book film, ‘Scott Pilgrim’ delivers in the story department and comes off at times, believe it or not, as somewhat charming. While Watchmen’s story remains original with amazing characters, the plot lines were too dark for my taste. ‘Scott Pilgrim’ is similar to boarding one of those carnival roller coasters (with the loud music blaring, mind you) and off you’ll go for a frenzied music filled ride. Michael Cera is the main star and if you are a fan you’ll actually want to get to the Cineplex asap, as he not only carries the film but he’s found a new genre for himself.

The director at the helm is Edgar Wright who also has screenwriting credit alongside Michael Bacall. The film is based on the comic books of the same name. The extended cast includes: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman. A Universal pictures production, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the film, was developed before the second comic in the series was even written.

One of the lines from the opening scenes sets the tone of the film perfectly. When Scott meets a potential new girlfriend, she asks him, “What do you like to play?” He answers seriously, “That’s kind of a loaded question, let’s see Zelda, Pac Man...etc.” When the characters are introduced in the film, each has a written rating in the right hand corner; Name, Awesomeness 7.8, Romance 7.5. A very clever addition with changes as a new character comes into the space. The categories change as well and coincide with the new character’s personality.

Scott Pilgrim, a 22 year old, is unemployed and plays guitar in a garage band. His band members are his friends and have wacky names like: Stephen Stills, etc. Scott is close with his sister and they text constantly. These scenes are hysterical and they add some depth to his character. Due to the fact this film is supposed to replicate a video game the characters are never fully developed. When one is playing the games, you certainly don’t know much about Mario or his brother. The same holds true for the film.

Basically, when one is viewing the film, its as if you are viewing a video game as names of characters are introduced and not explained other than the categories referred to earlier in the review. Most of the situations are blown out of proportion and taken to the extreme.

Scott has a new girlfriend with a VERY high Awesomeness rating. The problem he encounters is the ex boyfriend factor as he has to fight all 7 of them. Yes, its high drama as Scott fights all sorts of wacky characters.

The special effects are sometimes comic graphics mixed with humor and exaggeration. When Scott defeats one of the ex boyfriends, lots of coins in the form of graphics appears on the screen accompanied with loud ‘cha-ching’ sound effects. The coins represent points as in video games and, of course, those extra powers.

A downfall with the movie is the editing. It should have been much tighter. As a result, the film has several different drawn-out endings.

The great thing about this comic book film is the PG-13 rating and the charm of Michael Cera. The film will, no doubt, do well at the box office as its uniqueness factor scores many points in the film review department.

Sarah Adamson © August 13, 2010