Essentially the story is simple: A bumbling, charming 22-year-old turns superhero to get the girl he loves. But with arty touches and some genuinely funny lines, this comic-film is unique – albeit so much so that it comes across a little desperate.
Michael Cera plays Scott Pilgrim – a role not too distant from the slight, unassuming characters of Juno and Superbad.
He’s a 22-year-old who lives in Toronto, plays bass, lives with a gay roommate (Kieran Culkin) and takes a battering from his friends and sister (Anna Kendrick) because he’s dating a 17-year-old, Knives Chau (Ellen Wong).
It’s a tough life for Scott. His exe plays in his band, and another of his conquests has become some sort of rockstar rival.
But when pink-haired beauty, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), turns up in Toronto, Scott thinks his life will be sorted.
He falls in love with her, and she seems interested in him. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot, actually. She’s had ex-boyfriends – seven, in fact, who definitely have possession issues as Scott is tasked with defeating them all in video-game style ‘boss battles’ to win Ramona.
It’s no easy job. One is seemingly a fighting master; one can control your actions with some otherworldly force-field; and another wields a rather large sword.
But, as in the virtual universe, each ‘boss’ has a weakness. Scott must exploit that fact, defeat them and win his girl.
What develops is a two-hour journey of superpowers, amazingly attractive females and inexplicable fight scenes.
Adapting Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) lets every piece of his creativity flow into this film.
Each scene is lucidly coloured and softly rendered. There are some delicate touches of genius here.
Retro gaming graphics explode over the screen in their pixelated glory. And the parodied character names of those involved with real life band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bring a subtle comedic value to the film.
Yet while it is often exhilarating, it’s not always entertaining.
The most comparable film has to be Kick Ass, and if you’ve seen that then you know what to expect.
This film uses storytelling techniques never seen before in cinema. Yes, all the typical “BOOMS” and “THUDS” sprawl all over the screen to emphasise the comic roots.
But then there’s a hell of a lot of computer game references in here. From the Universal logo at the start, to the pee-o-meter in Scott’s toilet, the movie oozes with memories nineties-teenagers cherish.
However style can never distract from substance and the plot becomes a tedious yarn.
The onscreen chemistry between Cera (Scott Pilgrim) and Winstead (Ramona) is fiery and unpredictable. Couple these performances with the hilarious Kieran Culkin (Scott’s dark-humoured gay housemate) and you have a pretty decent line up.
While these characters enthral, others just enrage. Scott’s bandmates are intentionally nonchalant to serve the parody of ‘depressed’ teenagers. No problems here.
But it is when they’re presented with Scott’s first girlfriend, Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), that the film just irritates. Her enthusiasm and zest is the polar opposite of the other’s laziness and calm.
This technique should create contrast. But no, it does not. It just creates annoyance.
It’s hard to rate Scott Pilgrim vs. The World against any other film. The plot is tired and sets out to fulfil teenage desires for action, one-liners and nonsensical computer gaming effects.
But the innovative storytelling is unquestionably unique – though a little too distinct for it’s own good.
What develops is a good example of ‘goldfish filmmaking’ – no links, no development or subplot, just beautifully rendered chunks which need not be remembered for very long, if at all.
Realistically, no one above their mid-twenties is likely to seek this film out. But a proportion of those who do seek it won’t love it.
And I’m one who feels this movie is somehow not beyond average. Well constructed, yes. Entertaining, yes. But while Scott Pilgrim may defeat the world, he’s not won over this critic.
3 out of 5 stars