Dir: Edgar Wright, US, 2010, 112 mins approx
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Review by Martyn Bamber
After the British-based horror and action comedies Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), British director Edgar Wright has crossed the pond to Hollywood (but refreshingly tells a story based in Canada, not Canada standing in for the USA) with his latest film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World . But Wright's move across the Atlantic has not resulted in a cold, impersonal studio film. Thankfully the infectious sense of fun, encyclopaedic film knowledge and assured directorial hand apparent in his previous features are very much in evidence here.
The film is based on the comic book series by Bryan Lee O'Malley, with the story centring on Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera), a likeable but slightly listless guy in his early twenties. Although Scott is a talented bass guitar player in a band, he seems unfulfilled in life. Things change dramatically when Scott sees Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who is – literally – the girl of his dreams. Scott falls head over heels in love with Ramona, but getting into a relationship with her proves to be harder than he thinks. Scott soon discovers that Ramona has seven “evil exes” and that he has to fight all of them (in fights staged like computer games), if he is to win her heart.
For sheer cinematic fun, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a hard film to beat. The filmmakers employ a variety of styles to tell the story but it never feels as if they are being self-consciously arty or just showing off. Every shot, cut, crash, bang and wallop moves the story forward, tells a joke and illuminates a character. Along with the vibrant visuals that seem taken straight from the pages of a comic book, the film includes numerous pop culture references to games, music and movies that are sure to raise a smile of recognition for those in the know.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World also features a bunch of quirky, memorable characters that represent various familiar adolescent archetypes, yet feel fresh and convincing. Cera seems to have cornered the movie market for nerdy romantics, but he gets the chance to meld his shy and sensitive persona with a more pro-active action hero role here. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead does her best work since 2007's Death Proof , making Ramona mysterious and intriguing, but not unknowable or remote. There is also a terrific supporting cast, including Kieran Culkin as Scott's smart housemate, Ellen Wong as Scott's sympathetic potential girlfriend and Alison Pill as Scott's sardonic ex-girlfriend.
Amidst the amazing fantasy sequences (including a variety of fights and musical sequences), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World manages to capture the awkwardness and indecision of suburban twenty-somethings who haven't figured out what they want to do with their lives. Ultimately, the film is a deft coming of age story about a young man who is making the transition from the comforting familiarity of adolescence to the daunting uncertainty of adulthood. Wright and company have created an insightful and exciting fantasy film that filters the everyday anxieties of young people through a dazzling pop culture filter and the result is one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
|
