Review: Scott Pilgrim vs The World

3.0

0.0 (0)

Another big screen adaptation of a successful comic book series or graphic novel to be more precise. Plenty of dazzle but ultimately a little too much fizzle.

The film’s name “Scott Pilgrim vs The World” comes from the second instalment of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s 6-part graphic novel series. However, the comedy amalgamates much of the storyline cherry picked from the complete series and is a rollicking good ride, it has to be said, provided you are looking for complete escapism and nothing (absolutely nothing) too serious.

Scott Pilgrim (played by Michael Cera) is a 23yr old “chronically-enfeebled” part time musician from Toronto who falls in love with the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a delivery girl turning over a new leaf from her time in New York. In order to win Ramona’s heart, Pilgrim must defeat her seven deadly exes in a battle to the death; video game/battle of the bands style.

We would expand on the plot but we can’t - there really isn’t too much more to it.

The film does, however, succeed in many ways. The cine-montage of classic comic book animation with dazzling CGI, Sonic the Hedgehog/ Donkey Kong style sound-bites, excellent fight-choreography and some seriously funny scenes all help to showcase the talent and current departure of director Edgar Wright from his previous work (“Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz”, “Spaced” UK TV series).

Standout bonus from this film is the driving soundtrack steered by Nigel Godrich (“the sixth member of Radiohead”), with some songs accredited to Cera (an accomplished musician) and the band themselves.

Not likely to win any awards for screenplay, the film is worth seeing however for its pinball-wizard-esque, fast paced action and humour. Though one can’t help but feel the magical cinematic imagery and inspired soundtrack isn’t enough to sustain the extended, for “totally” too long, bubblegum plot.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Editor review

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