SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Grade: A-
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Mark Webber, Allison Pill, Jason Schwartzman, Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Brandon Routh, Satya Bhabha, Mae Whitman, and Anna Kendrick
PREMISE: A young man falls head-over-heels in love when he lays eyes on an attractive tough girl who's new to his neighborhood, but it turns out he must defeat all of her ex-boyfriends in combat to earn the right to date her.

RATED PG-13 for stylized action violence, language (including sexual references), and sensuality

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is unlike any movie you’ve ever seen, and one that will leave many viewers absolutely starry-eyed with delight. An outrageously clever mix of teen romance and special-effects bonanza, it's filled to the brim with action, humor, and imaginative razzle-dazzle that crosses genres, kicks aside cliches, and begs sensible viewers to toss their disbelief straight out the window. If you have more than a passing interest in video games, this is unquestionably the movie for you, as what stands as a quirky rom-com quickly becomes what can only be described as a video game brought to life.

What would you do if the gorgeous love of your life left you, only to become a mega-successful pop star? That’s the issue facing Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera, best-known for his work in another quirky romantic comedy, 2007’s Juno). Scott is between jobs, shares a seedy Toronto apartment with a gay socialite (Kieran Culkin), plays bass for a low-brow garage band (called Sex Bob-Omb), and tries not to think about his ex, Natalie, aka 'Envy' (Brie Larson), who has become the lead singer dynamo of a popular local music outfit. His first relationship post-Natalie turns out to be with Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), a 17-year-old Chinese schoolgirl, who is lively and optimistic but invites upon Scott endless taunting from his friends and snappy younger sister, Stacey (Anna Kendrick).

The uninspiring landscape of Scott’s life is one day lit up by dreams of a violet-haired, stunning young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who turns out to be real—Ramona Flowers recently moved to the area and has all the guys gawking at her attitude and sense of style. Instantly smitten, Scott orders a package from her workplace, Amazon, and refuses to sign for it until she agrees to go out with him. The date seems a little uneven, as Scott feels foolish and lame accompanying this girl who’s way out of his league, but she seems a little lonely, and appears willing to cuddle with minimal provocation. And, though it costs him the comfort of his relationship with Knives—who has become a fanatical supporter of his band just as it’s poised on the verge of a berth in a local Battle of the Bands competition—Scott instantly knows Ramona is The One. But there’s one problem: Ramona has her share of baggage.

That baggage soon manifests itself, as first one, then another, then another, of Ramona’s Seven Evil Exes, a League supposedly formed by the ultimate ex-boyfriend, Gideon, come to Scott with the intent to dole out some punishment. After an eye-popping mid-concert encounter with the first (Satya Bhabha), Scott is informed that he must defeat all seven if he’s going to date Ramona. So, as Scott’s band pushes further into Battle of the Bands, with the chance to play before some big music producers, Scott comes face to face with all seven, while a heartbroken and obsessed Knives dogs his every move.

The transition from admittedly eccentric comedy, to superhero fight fest, is a little jarring, though you have already been clued in by the Super Nintendo-esque pixelated presentation of the Universal logo during the opening credits, and the fact that sound effects like the phone ringing are spelled out (RIIIIIING) onscreen a la old cartoon shows, and fast-cut, split-screen editing reveals the comic book-ish intentions. So prepare to expect the unexpected: Scott’s battle royale fight scenes with the exes are not shown as dreams or fantasy sequences but real-time fights where you get reaction shots from the audience, with each defeated foe turning into a shower of coins and “points” that Scott can collect, en route to “leveling up”. Weapons come into play later, as do faceless minions that need offing, plus short animated sequences detailing the backstories of each ex. That Scott Pilgrim comes from a graphic novel series will surprise no one; the movie’s approach, which is to literally put that graphic novel onscreen, may.

But it’s a fantastic amount of fun. The quick editing is ideal for punch line after punch line, and the movie is largely a laugh riot, what with its constant situations of dramatic irony, tongue-in-cheek information passed to the audience by onscreen text boxes, and the dry, crackling humor of both the dialogue and the plot developments, which get zanier and zanier.

The actors are all game, with all of them performing admirably, even when sometimes called upon to go from cartoonish derring-do to real-life drama in the same scene. Cera does his dweeby act well, showing sharp comic timing and yet bringing genuine feeling to his character who, we soon see, is fighting for himself as much as for Ramona. Ellen Wong is a delight as Knives, who, in the film, runs the gauntlet from private-school ingénue to fanatical groupie to spurned ex; the actress brings endearing energy and emotion to all her scenes. Among the Exes, Captain America’s Chris Evans is hoot-worthy as a cocky action star with eyebrows of steel, Brandon Routh is a cut-up as a hunky but airheaded vegan, and Jason Schwartzman chews scenery with gusto as the hilariously-literal Gideon ("Do you know HOW LONG it took me to get all the other exes' contact information? Like TWO HOURS!!!").

One of my main problems with the movie, though, is Winstead’s performance as the supposedly to-die-for Ramona. It may not be the actress’s fault-she’s decidedly underwritten-but while I get that her promiscuous coolness is attractive, her character otherwise comes off as distant and, ultimately, rather uninteresting. In her final scenes she’s able to make understandable the pain of a young woman who keeps getting rejected in her search for acceptance and love, but, other than her bright and constantly changing hair (violet to blue to neon green), she’s largely forgettable.

The visual effects, all done with a cartoonish edge, are flashy but never overwhelm the characters, the soundtrack is likewise never overbearing, and there are dozens of little witty touches that keep this movie interesting.

So, do I recommend it?
Well, just as Hugo’s morphing from a kiddie friendship story to a history-of-film-study was a little sudden (if well-crafted), Scott Pilgrim might throw viewers who are expecting something more serious. There is a handful of sexual innendos, a fair amount of cursing, and, of course, lots of stylized action, but it’s the presentation of the content that might create problems. I wouldn’t recommend this movie to everyone, but, if you’re willing to leave disbelief and rational expectations at the door and just let this movie pull you in, you’re in for a fun time.

Bottom line (I promise):
The most freakishly-enjoyable film I’ve seen in a long time, Scott Pilgrim is an eyebrow-raising but likable movie that might just be the most original thing you’ve ever seen.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Directed by Edgar Wright
Based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley
Written by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall
Rated PG-13 for stylized action violence, language, and sensuality
Length: 112 minutes