SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (includes trailer)
August 23rd 2010 02:10
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – where do I start? I had just had a huge lunch, overfed and sluggish would be the two words to describe me. I walked into the theatre, collapsing in my seat, unaware of what was to come - AND THEN - to my unexpected shock, I was mugged by a slice of sensory over-kill that left my brain scattered, my head pounding and my food undigested. Embracing a literal video game view of life, abandoning all restraint and resembling a hyperactive child who will neither shut up nor stand still, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a film that is guilty of drinking way too many slush puppy’s. While it may have made me feel like an old man who has bouts of anxiety as he waits for the next inevitable sequence of filmic hyperactivity to ambush him, this film is not entirely without it’s merits, but it is juvenile and annoying.
Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera (Juno, Super Bad), is a 22 year old fellow, thoroughly uncomfortable in his own skin, pale and meek, who has snatched up a 17 year old girlfriend which his friends, family and rock band, whom he plays bass guitar for, are cutting him no slack over. Scott is content in influencing this young girl’s thoughts, until he meets Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Death Proof, Die Hard 4), a woman with a reputation and mind of her own, who requires him to be on his best form if he possibly hopes to win her over. When Scott gets Ramona to go out with him (rather unconvincingly I might add) he discovers that she has some baggage in the form of….(wait for it)….7 ‘evil’ ex’s - who are out to destroy him as long as he is dating Ramona. Directed by Edgar Wright (Hott Fuzz, Shaun Of The Dead) and also starring Jason Schwartzman (Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore) and Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air, Twilight), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a flashy, playful, visually witty and sometimes funny film that boasts it’s utter lack of substance.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is more interested in emulating an old video game than telling a story. While many will be wowed by the film’s visuals, which includes a ‘pee bar’ that appears on the screen and lowers, as the young man is draining the lizard. Most of the film’s gags, which include characters receiving bonus scores and power ups, complete with sound effect descriptives like ‘Ka-Boom’ and ‘Sha-Zack!’ while the action is going down will most likely appeal to younger audiences only.
The film is assembled with schizophrenic editing which grates at times, it very often resembles an inorganic sugar high that drowns out any resemblance of story telling. Almost every shot has some kind of visual computer graphic gag in it but it’s fun eye candy for sure. It all works in the end and I think it’s fair to add the my disliking towards the story and style is a purely personal choice.
The big problem in the film is really Michael Cera. I like Cera, I’ve enjoyed his amusingly wimpy, turtle faced performances in the past but every time there was a close up of Cera in this film I felt like throwing something at the screen. Cera is at an all time feminine high here, his asexual, puppy dog appearance revolts in this miscast of the decade. The idea of his girly demeanour being able to appeal to a punk rocker chick like Ramona just didn’t gel with me along with him being able to beat up or kill or destroy or what ever the heck you want to call it on these challengers (they all turn into coins at the end of each battle anyway so who cares).
I did however admire the film’s playfulness, it’s a lot of fun, and amounts to a thoughtless distraction which would go well with a bucket of candy. The strongest in the cast is Mary Elizabeth Winstead, she’s completely unrecognisable and totally inhabits her character. I was thoroughly impressed at how I didn’t at all recognize her until the credits rolled. I was also finding myself laughing more and more at the film’s surprising humour, which is endearing and kept catching me more off guard. Was Scott Pilgrim winning me over? I did find myself enjoying it more, warming to it during it’s second half and being wowed by it’s production values. Unfortunately, it took me way too long to ease into this film’s style and manic, hyper energy. I can’t help but feel that if Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World had shown just a tad more restraint, if it had a few less annoying gags in it, I might have enjoyed it in the same way I enjoyed Kick Ass. If I was a little bit younger, in the right mood and knew what I was getting into when I first sat down to watch it - I think I would have had a lot of fun with this.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
The only point of disagreement I have - Mary Elizabeth Winstead I thought was incredibly bland. I've never agreed so much with Margaret Pomeranz on a film in my life - and it scares the shit out of me!!
And Kick-Ass...........will watch it at least 100 more times before I ever watch this again!
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
By Winstead - what I was impressed about was the transformation, yes she didnt do much with the role but I was impressed by how different she seemed in personality, energy, vibe and even voice - that impressed me but she was bland I agree - but I'm a sucker for a actor who pulls the wool over my eyes when I dont realize it was them.
As for Cera - he needs to man the fuck up already, he pissed me off royally in this.
Thanks for stopping by, bud
Comment by Anonymous
The screen is already full of Sylvester Stallones and Vin Diesels busting up bad guys with their steroid-honed arms. Cera is great in this role because he is the lowest common denominator - he is relatable precisely because he doesn't look like an action hero.
Yeah, he's still the nice-guy-turned-wuss that Cera is famous for bringing to his roles. But he kicks ass, he's tenacious, and he takes plenty of beatings - all in total physical style. Despite his weak looks and mannerisms, he fights hard.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
I generally like Cera a lot, but think he was mismatched for this film. Actually 'Nick and Nora's Infinite playlist' is a film Cera was in where he really did a great job and there was a similarity in the story line, thats an example of him bringing it home - here I think he didnt
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
David - hahahaha - you gave me a chuckle here - for all I know anonymous could very well be richard roeper or someone like that - hell maybe it's even Margaret Pomeranz revealing her true opinion incognito
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD