Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ellen Wong
Directed by Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz)
Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references
Appropriate for ages 13+
Scott Pilgrim (Cera) is a 22-year-old cruising through life in Canada with a cute high school girl friend and a loud rock band to distract him – until he discovers Ramona Flowers (Winstead), an eclectic American that fascinates him to the point of obsession. When she agrees to go out on a date with him, he gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that he must destroy each of her seven exes to get a chance with her. Each one tougher than the next, he really likes her but wonders how much he can handle before he is destroyed himself.
Edgar Wright’s previous outings have taken genres and bended them with an imaginative spin, but this time he creates something truly original. I can honestly tell you that you have never seen, and will never see anything like this movie. It’s part musical, video game, romance, sci-fi, and teen comedy all rolled into one.
While I’m not sure if the music will stand up on its own – it sounds really good in the theater. It’s loud, in your face, and fun to watch as Michael Cera’s awkward bass guitar playing rocks pretty hard. And the added special effects that zip in and out only make the tunes more fun as you are experiencing them.
While most of the big names in the film are in smaller roles, everyone is so perfectly cast and does such a great job. While the film is certainly about Pilgrim and Flowers, its the ensemble that brings it all together so well and this movie is full of future stars.
The music, the strange fighting sequences, and practically everything else though exists almost in a sort of dream state. Scott actually dreams of Ramona before he sees her which only makes him want her more. But nothing in the film seems real. Yet you have to assume that it all is and this altered reality makes anything possible including wacky real-life fight scenes where the loser dies and turns to coins, music that turns to monsters and comic-like images, and most importantly – the Vegan Police. Saying it’s creative is an understatement. Being able to put this kind of vision on film is nothing short of genius and also very brave on the part of Universal for funding it.
Watching it for the first time I couldn’t help but think that this is just so neat – kind of like the first time I played with an iPhone. I just hope it has better reception. A
Loved this movie! I liked the little nods to various cult films like the Flash Gordon ring chime. I laughed my butt off when I heard the FG but no one else got it(age thing I think) Gotta go and see it again to see everything. I really thought Caulkin did a fantastic job.