The Fist got access to a preview screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World*:
As a fans of pop culture, we grow attached to certain works. Maybe too attached. When there is news that our favorite comic is going to be made into a movie other cross-media, there is a certain level of pain and heartache. It is rare that a writer and/or director is going to fully understand the source material and not thoroughly wreck what we hold dear.
Thankfully, the film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim actually is everything we fans wanted it to be.
NOTE: This article DOES NOT contain spoilers beyond what has been shown in various trailers.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is adapted from a series of six graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley published between 2004 and 2010. The movie was written/directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), with plot points pulled from various books of the series.
Scott Pilgrim (Micheal Cera) is a 22-year-old slacker who, although jobless, plays bass in a band with some friends. He finds the love of his life in Ramona V. Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). In order to date Ramona, Scott must fight and defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes, who are coming to kill him.
The movie, like the comic, is a slice-of-life piece based on Scott’s mundane life exploits. What makes this movie (and source comic) different is that although the characters seem real life enough, the evil exes have super powers and ARE actually trying to kill Scott in match-ups straight out of Mortal Combat. Plus, the movie wholly embraces it’s nerdy aspects and plays them up.
Fight scenes and aspects of daily life are treated as if they were part of a video game. When Scott fights the evil exes, the number of hits Scott lands on his opponents are recorded on screen, and he’s rewarded with power-ups as he fights. While going to the bathroom, a gauge showing the level of his urine appears above his head. All the little things we as geeks have seen and learned from gaming, comics, and pop culture are actively referenced and detailed as part of the character’s thoughts and actions. How many times have you yourself spent 15 minutes trying to determine which energy drink gives you the best power up and ‘watched’ the imaginary energy bar refill as you drank it?
Scott Pilgrim gets a life.
All this may sound a bit cliched, and truthfully, it is. However, the cliches are acknowledged respectfully and used to advance (and even enhance) the pacing of the movie. At no time do you get the feeling that the audience is being talked down to or mocked for knowing a bit of trivia, background music, or some reference to a specific video game playing style. This movie not only respects geek culture but celebrates it. On the flip side, even if you are NOT a die-hard gamer or comic reader, the movie is generic enough that you will get 80% of the in-jokes 100% of the time.
The story at the bare basics is really nothing new. Boy gets girl; loses girl; wins girl back. Admittedly, the path to get the girl might be well worn. However, what makes this gem of a movie worth the ticket price, tub of popcorn, and vat of soft drink is that the cast and crew comprehend the source material, understand the relevance to our lives, and portray it with the reverence and humility it deserves.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a must see, if only to see some aspect of yourself on the screen.
The comic version of Scott.
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