Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Michael Cera must battle a girl's exes for love in this video-game-inspired romantic comedy meets action flick meets comic book.

By Crystal Erickson
Published: August 16th, 2010 | 12:10pm

Directed by Shaun of the Dead’s Edgar Wright, and based on a graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’ Malley, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one of the best movies tailor-made for cult status to come along in years. It-geek-boy Michael Cera plays Scott Pilgrim, an average guy obsessed with Smashing Pumpkins and video games who plays bass in a band called Sex Bob-omb. Pilgrim is dating a 17-year-old Catholic schoolgirl named Knives (Ellen Long) until he meets the girl of his dreams.

Except no—she really is the girl of his dreams. He first imagines Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) in a dream that takes place in the desert, and meets her the next day at the library with Knives. From there, the film turns romantic comedy genre on its head. Cera’s wit and cynicism are matched in the film’s supporting cast, including Kieran Culkin as Wallace, Scott’s gay roommate, and Park and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers, the on-again, off-again girlfriend of Scott’s bandmate.

In order to be with Ramona, Scott must defeat her seven "evil exes," starting with Matthew (Satya Bhabha), an emo boy with the mystical power to summon hipster demon chicks. Then there’s an actor, twin brothers, a girl, and a vegan named Todd (Brandon Routh), who is dating Pilgrim’s ex, Envy (Brie Larson). The League of Evil Exes is an elaborate scheme created by the most evil ex, Gideon, played by Jason Schwartzman, a clever choice for a super villain. The actor best remembered from Rushmore has a million tricks up his sleeve here.

Scott fights the exes as if squaring off in a video game, with kicks and punches earning points, weapons, and abilities until the K.O. (that’s "knockout" for you non-gamers) turns each defeated foe into a pile of coins. The film creates a virtual world that might be described as an ADD-afflicted, game-addicted kid's fantasy that borrows straight from popular games. When Pilgrim goes to use the bathroom, for instance, a "pee bar" appears on the screen, and depletes, like a Sims character. Watching the film, one begins to realize just how deeply engrained video games are into our everyday lives. Really, this should come as no surprise. What is life, after all, but a fun, long game, advancing in difficulty as you play?

With plenty of hot geeks and relatable romantic conundrums, Scott Pilgrim doesn’t forget its female audience. Ramona’s jaded view of love is one any girl with a roster of mean exes can identify with. Glimpses of reality seep through the fantasy and illusion, like when she explains to Scott why Gideon is so difficult to escape (“He has a way of getting inside my head.”) Of course, Ramona then shows Scott a chip on her neck, but we still empathize with her. And albeit a little 8-bit, who wouldn’t want to be saved like the Princess in Super Mario Bros?