Film Review: Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Yay! I am so relieved that this film lived up to pretty much all my expectations. Edgar Wright has completely understood where the comic books are coming from, has managed to keep in a staggering amount of the plot and supporting characters and has delivered something that should be satisfying even to those not familiar with the books.

Satisfying, that is, so long as they are happy to accept the internal logic of a world where a 22-year-old slacker who plays bass in a garage band can not only be challenged to a series of crazy computer-game-style battles to win the heart of the woman of his dreams, but also rise to the challenge almost without batting an eyelid. If you’re sitting there asking questions like ‘but how did he learn to fight like that?’, this might be the wrong film for you. If you’re willing to immerse yourself in a world where the rules of games, comics and action films can bleed seamlessly into that of twenty-something relationship dilemmas, then you’ll probably fall in love with this film.

The film’s reference points are clearly signalled in its visual style. Pixellated visuals, enemies who expire in a shower of coins, and comic-book-style ‘thunks’ and ‘whumps’ written across the screen all show that we are a long way from reality, most likely somewhere slap bang in the middle of nerd heaven.

Nevertheless, in spite of the sillyness, geekiness and full-on special effects explosions, this is a film with a heart. Michael Cera does a great job as the somewhat dim, yet hugely charming eponymous hero, while Mary Elizabeth Winstead manages to give real depth to his love interest Ramona – no mean feat, given that the plot requires her to be so mysterious that she could come across as having no personality at all in the hands of the wrong actress. The supporting cast are all absolutely spot-on, although special mention should go to Kieran Culkin as Scott’s witty roommate Wallace Wells.

Some plot adjustments have been made to condense the action of the books, which takes place over many months, and make it more straightforward, but it stays true to the spirit of the original and overall is remarkably faithful, especially considering that the sixth and final book was not even out until very recently, when the film must already have been all but completed.

The books had something genuine to say about relationships and growing up, and I think that the film has managed to retain that message and be moving as well as hugely entertaining.