Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Image: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World poster. Copyright Universal Pictures.

Dear nerdlingers, have I got a movie for you. Ever dreamed of a film directed by the genius behind Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead based on an indie comic about 20-something slackerdom and filled with video game references both obvious and subtle? It may sound too goddamn awesome to exist in the same universe as Twilight: Eclipse, but such a thing is real, and it’s called Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It is sad indeed that I needed to tell you that, but not many of you seemed to notice. The film only grossed $10.6 million in its opening weekend. Let me try to convince you why it deserves so, so much more.

I’ll try to avoid spoiling too many of the specific video game winks and nods which exist within Scott Pilgrim, but hear this: the film opens with music ripped straight from Link to the Past. If your Nintendo nerd boners haven’t reached full mast yet, then consider this: Scott plays the bassline from Final Fantasy II.

Video game influence doesn’t just show up in the thrill provided by easy references. The story of Scott Pilgrim is told with the frantic, illogical logic of games. The movie’s pacing rapidly accelerates when Scott finds out he must battle his way through the seven evil exes of his new love interest, Ramona Flowers. No real explanation is given as to why this is the case. Even less of one is given for the remarkable powers most of the characters in the movie possess (like wielding flaming pixelated swords and traveling via sub-space). All of this is in glorious homage to the games which inspire the film, where fun holds significantly more value than adherence to reality.

I don’t mean to suggest that the shallowness of plot often found in games is carried over here. Scott’s true struggle is not in dealing with the League of Evil Exes, but rather life as an unemployed 22-year-old coming to terms with his own shallow existence, and the unkind way he treats the people around him. Scott is forced to juggle his feelings for Ramona along with his absence-of-feeling for his current girlfriend, naive high schooler Knives Chau.

Michael Cera is, of course, Scott Pilgrim. While Cera can once again be accused of playing the same deadpan wimp he always does, it’s hard to fault him here. Anyone in his place would have surely been doing his best Cera impression. The rest of the cast is filled with unknowns and semi-knowns taking on smaller roles and succeeding without exception. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers is sexily dry-witted. Ellen Wong as Knives Chau is frantic and hilarious. Kieran Culkin, playing Scott’s older, gayer roommate Wallace, demonstrates honed comedic timing as he quips on Scott’s inability to run his own life.

To take only one small issue with the film, the members of Scott’s band Sex Bob-omb (seriously, that’s what they’re called) are disappointingly underused. Young Neil, Stephen Stills, and especially Kim Pine are funny and well cast. We just don’t get to see the three hanging out with Scott enough.

Scott Pilgrim isn’t just a character piece or a comedy. In fact, it’s an action film as much as anything else. Again, director Edgar Wright excels here. As Scott battles through the pantheon of Ramona’s evil exes, we’re treated to video game action come to life. Characters wield stat-boosting swords, giant hammers, and supernatural powers. Rhythm-based dance-offs and wild fist fights straight out of arcades are presented one after another replete with the corresponding panache of chirpy sound effects and glowing lights.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a film that gets it. Video game references that are correct. Video game references that are used out of respect for the medium rather than mockery. Toronto, where the story takes place, portrayed without the need for belittlement. 20-something slackerdom portrayed accurately (I know, I’m living it). Find every rupee you can find (they tend to be hidden in pots and under long grass) and go see this movie as many times as you can afford.

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