There are very few films that can come even relatively close to defining an entire sub-culture. Enter “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”, a whirling, lightning-cut epic made about and ultimately for, the geek generation.
Michael Cera (still as gleefully meek as ever) plays Scott Pilgrim, a 22-year old bass guitarist stuck at something of a crossroads in his life. He finds interest in very little, aside from his music and hanging out with his roommate Wallace. But then, the pink-haired, elusive, mysterious Ramona Flowers enters his life.
Scott is instantly smitten by her, and after some (very) awkward courting the two begin to date. But before the two can truly settle down and focus on their relationship, Scott must literally defeat in mortal combat, Ramona’s seven evil exes.
The entire film plays out and is designed to look like a blend between comic books and ’80s-era video-games. There are literally thousands of visual and audible gags, which can be as random as a faux-television audience that laughs and giggles in some parts, to exil exes disappearing and turning into coins when Scott defeats him, a la “Super Mario”. But the thing is, the countless gimmicks, references, fights, etc., never get tiring because they do not feel tacked on, they flow naturally. They are as natural an element to this film as say, dialogue or pace. This movie bounces about with a giddy exuberance that is nothing short of amazing to watch. I am not exaggerating in saying that neither I nor you have ever quite seen anything like this.
Although a good deal of the cast intentionally play it over-the-top (more on that later), the performances are never-the-less great. Cera doesn’t really deviate from his standard awkward, offbeat persona here, but to make up for it showcases both his killer comic timing and a previously unknown anecdote: This dude can seriously kick some butt as an action hero. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona does not have the meatiest of roles. That said, she demonstrates that she has serious potential as a comedic and actually, dramatic actress.
This has a remarkably strong supporting cast. Anna Kendrick (just coming off of her great turn in “Up in the Air”) shows up as Pilgrim’s younger sister, and does what she has developed a knack for doing: Knock it out of the park. The actors portraying Ramona’s “Seven Exil Exes” that are an absolute blast to watch. Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman in particular have fantastic comic timing. But Ellen Wong as Scott’s obsessed teenage ex, Knives Chau, delivers an absolute breakout performance, as a girl who absolutely refuses to give up her beloved “Scotty”. It’s pretty astonishing what a great cast has been assembled.
But the thing that really, truly and entirely blows my mind about “Scott Pilgrim” is this: Its ability to maintain a ridiculously manic pace, with sight gags and action sequences flying by in seconds, and yet touch me deeply on an emotional level. There’s something to be said for a movie where one moment a character is pulling an “Power of Self-Respect” energy sword of his chest, and the next I literally am touched so deeply I have tears in my eyes, all without feeling forced or contrived. The emotional arcs of both Scott and Ramona remain genuinely poignant, transcending the films own tone to become a great love story in its own right.
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is a giddy, gleeful ode to youth, to love, and to the fixations of geek culture. Few movies have ever stirred up such a profound emotional reaction in me as this has. Many, many people will likely disagree with this review, likely as the result of a generational gap, and that’s entirely fine by me. Why? Because similar to the way that nowadays kids watch “Star Wars” or “Back to the Future” and marvel; in 20 years kids will look at “Scott Pilgrim” and marvel. Young or old, I know I always will.
