Entry#190: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Trailer

Edgar Wright is one of the most creative and hilarious directors out there right now. His previous films, Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, combined completely opposite genres (romantic-comedy/zombie horror and "cop-flick"/comedy) while creating films that were fresh, witty, and downright fun. Wright's third film, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, is no exception to the formula of his previous films and it may be his most ambitious work to date. It's still filled with Wright's brilliant sense of humor, but the mash-up consists of a larger number of genres and the cinematography is much more inventive and creative this time around.

Based on the comic-book series of the same name, the film follows the geeky Scott Pilgrim, bass guitarist of the garage band "Sex Bob-omb", as he begins to date a high-school student, Knives, despite his friends' and bandmates' protests. Not much later, though, Scott meets the mysterious Ramona Flowers and begins to gain interest in her after their initial meeting. As Scott begins dating Ramona, cheating on Knives in the process, he's soon introduced - in a violent way - to the "League of Evil Exes". The group was formed by Gideon Graves, Ramona's seventh previous boyfriend, and its sole purpose is to defeat anyone that's romantically interested in Ramona. The rest of the film follows Scott as he battles Ramona's evil exes in a visually stylish romp of action and wit.

First off, I loved the characters in this movie. From the leading role to the smallest cameo, every role in this cast is simply fantastic. The characters are all well-written and interesting, with each having his/her own backstory and sense of place in this absolutely fun, imaginative, and nostalgic film. Most movie-goers may, at first, believe that Michael Cera (who plays Scott Pilgrim) is simply playing the same character that he always does, but he's really not. Thanks to the immense amount of talent from both Edgar Wright and Bryan Lee O'Malley, the writing's so great that the film, in a way, deconstructs the "hipster" type of characters that Cera's known for playing. It is, however, an admiring deconstruction as Pilgrim is still portrayed as an endearing and heartfelt character. I could literally go on and on about this film's cast because they were just that wonderful. Wallace Wells, Scott Pilgrim's gay roommate, would be a perfect example of the brilliant supporting cast. His dialogue's clever, the delivery is spot-on perfect, and he's just as interesting and lovable as the film's major characters. Even Ramona's exes have an interesting sense of style and personality. Todd, for instance, is a vegan whose veganism gives him telepathic and superhuman powers and he's a bit of a hilarious moron to boot. As the film is going for a retro-comic book/video game/anime feel, the over-the-top villains are hilarious, creative, and each one fits the mood of the film. There are so many more characters I could talk about - such as Kim, Stacey, or even Ramona herself - but the film exists for a reason. Out of all the films I've seen this year, this one is probably the most character-orientated and for that I'm grateful.

The visuals look spectacular as well. Using new and creative styles, Wright has been able to do something that few films have ever done before - bring a comic book to life. There have been plenty of "superhero" movies, mind you, but very, very, very few have actually felt like a live-action comic book or graphic novel. The only film that's succeeded in creating this atmosphere, besides this one, would be Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. That's not even based on previously existing material. The action sequences, for instance, look animated and just superb. The image is crisp and fresh while the interesting Dragon Ball Z-like fights are delightfully over-the-top and incredibly entertaining. Even if you're not mentioning the action sequences, the film still looks great. The editing techniques are highly impressive and the combination with the aesthetically-pleasing cinematography creates a visual treat that compliments the film's lovable cast of characters.

The humor's just as top-notch as Wright's previous films as well. The dialogue's very witty and the humor is virtually non-stop thanks to the film's frantic pacing. Just as one joke's ended, another one's more than likely started. Also, there are plenty of quotable moments from Scott Pilgrim that prove to be just as effective and hilarious as Wright's other two films. I won't spoil any, but I can assure any readers that they're really funny. Even the few moments of physical humor prove to be pretty funny, which is saying something for me as I can't stand slapstick.

Part of what makes the film so enjoyable is the fact that it connects with its major audiences' nostalgia and music taste. If you've ever been into video games or comic books, for example, there'll be plenty of subtle references to pick up on - from the Legend of Zelda theme music to the Street Fighter-like start of matches. In many ways, this film is to Generation Y as films like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club were to Generation X. The film knows exactly who its audience is and lets us know, through satire and admitted charm, about the pros and cons of this current generation. Even the music is catered to Generation Y's taste, as the film's soundtrack is filled with enough indie bands and tracks to make any "hipster" blush. From well-known indie musicians such as Beck and Metric to some lesser-known singers and bands, the film's music is just as enjoyable as the rest of the film. My personal favorite song, though, would have to be Metric's/Clash at the Demonhead's "Black Sheep". I could listen to that song for hours and never get tired of it.

If the film does have a harrowing flaw, however, it'd lie within the film's introduction. The characters don't seem as open or lovable in the first few minutes of the film, and it takes awhile before they open up enough for us to actually enjoy (or detest, as opinions vary) their company. Despite this smallish error within the first 15 - 20 minutes, I still loved this movie.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World has to be one of the best movies to come out this year. It's original, filled with memorable and likable characters, and has a wicked and nostalgic sense of humor that's sure to please younger and older audiences.