Review of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) by Naomi S — 10 Oct 2013

Scott Pilgrim is a strange film. With its exaggerated retro-game inspired fight sequences, trippy graphics and quirky (and sometimes downright bizarre) script, it doesn't feel much like a film at all. This is not necessarily a bad thing - in many ways it means it retains a faithfulness to the comic book genre it grew from, and it's refreshing to watch a movie that is genuinely setting out to try and do something different. On a personal level, I also really liked the slacker humour and gamer references, because I'm 28 and refuse to grow up.

The whole film pretty much revolves around a series of battles: the fight sequences are the glue that binds Scott Pilgrim together and they are immensely enjoyable, all the more so because you get to see the doe-eyed Michael Cera "have a beef" in his own socially awkward way. Cera has carved quite a name for himself as the go-to guy for all things 'geek' in recent years. Given his mumbly deer-in-headlights performances in Juno and Youth in Revolt, it's no surprise that director Edgar Wright chose him to bring Bryan Lee O'Malley's comic book anti-hero to life on the big screen. Predictably, he does a fantastic job of playing the loveable underdog here. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is also great as Romona Flowers, the rebellious rollerskating love interest harbouring so much teen angst she makes Napolean Dynamite look cheerful.

In places, however, it's the film's sheer ambition and incessant desire to be new that can make things feel quite fragmented and disjointed. The story is pretty simple - Scott has to defeat his dream girl's 7 evil exes - yet some parts were just needlessly dragged out to the point where they felt a tad overdone. Overall though this isn't enough to spoil what is ultimately an awesome celebration of geeky youth culture and having the balls to go for what you want. Don't miss it.