Scott Pilgrim vs the World, 2010
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is based on a guy named Scott (Michael Cera), who at 22 years of age kind of does nothing with his life. He lives with his gay roommate in what looks like bomb shelter left over from the 60's but Scott is still pretty cool for one thing he's in a band. Granted its unsigned and possibly terrible nevertheless a band. Scott at the beginning of the film is dating a girl who is literally 17 years old and although his friends are naturally apprehensive about his choice of companionship but this doesn't seem to bother Scott at all. Until that is he meets Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), instantly Scott is smitten and believes that she is the girl of his (literally) of his dreams. The rest of the film is filled with Scott's epic battle to win Ramona over and of course fight off her 7 evil ex's. Oh wait did I forget to mention this 7 evil ex's business? Well basically for poor Scott to be with Ramona, Scott must battle and defeat (to death) her evil ex's and thus be victorious!
Scott Pilgrim is original in every sense well except for the part about the guy chasing the girl. But the delivery is something that I have never seen before and that was its greatest appeal. The entire film is a cross between old school PC games and if anime were in live action. The fight scenes reminiscent of classics like Street Fighter with witty dialogue and jibes at pop culture Scott Pilgrim is like an epitome for teen wonderment. However like I mentioned earlier my 17 year old self would have broken a rib from the excitement of watching this film. But I'm no longer a teenager and therefore it does not appeal to me as much as it would have. For more mature audience this movie would have missed the mark with the use of language and even the style is beyond what most adults would call entertaining. But it was actually incredibly funny and witty which is a credit to the writers. And also a part of its appeal is largely based on the novelty of the film - it's so stylised and strange and in many ways much like a gimmick which basically carries the entertainment. But like many things that are a gimmick the novelty of the film does wear off after an hour and ten minutes into the movie. By the time you get to the 5th ex you are over the whole battle of the ex's story and wanting the film to conclude. Basically this movie would maintain its entertainment value if just cut down in screen time; particularly with less ex's - 5 instead of 7 would have maintained the pace of the film and kept the novelty without it becoming tedious as it got particularly at the later part of the film.
Final Verdict: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an eccentric film clearly tapping into youth market with success. However older audience are left feeling a little bored with the repetitiveness of battles and even feeling a little upset to come to the realisation that their youth is well and truly beyond their grasp...
Rating: 7.7/10
