Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: Review By Diaigma

Aug 17th, 2010 by Diaigma
. . . an in-your-face sucker-punching 8-bit battle arena for your eyes! This is not only the best video game-esque movie I've ever seen, but the most rock'en and righteous teen comedy since Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
  • OVERALL
    3.5
    GREAT
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
A rare joy is what I would call Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - a simple love story about boy meets girl, about boy cheating on girlfriend to hook up with girl, about boy having to defeat girl's seven evil Exs . . . . okay - maybe the story isn't that simple, or that breathtaking, but this latest teen fray from the obscure director Edgar Wright delivers with an in-your-face sucker-punching 8-bit battle arena for your eyes! This is not only the best video game-esque movie I've ever seen, but the most rock'en and righteous teen comedy since Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Scott Pilgrim is an ordinary fellow from Canada. Toronto, Canada. He's a rocker. He's a lover. All he doesn't have is a contract deal with his band, The Sex Bob-Ombs. He also shares a pad with his openly promiscuous gay roommate, Wallace, who is eager to move Scott out, but still willing to lend a voice of reason when needed. No amount of reason will convince Scott to change his mind, however, when he beholds the lovely and aloof Ramona Flowers. Scott is smitten. He'll do anything, like break the heart of his teenage girlfriend, to be with her. Unfortunately for Scott, love is going to hurt him - bad. Ramona's baggage is trying to kill him every five minutes! If he wants to keep Ramona, he must fight - no - defeat her Seven Evil Exs . . . to the death! Does Scott have what it takes to knock some sense into these spawn from the deepest, darkest "dumped" pit in hell, or will he amount to a scattered pile of chump change?

The Good:

Acting - while the script may be lacking and punny at times, the line delivery makes this film most enjoyable. Appropriately over-the-top and hilariously ADHD, all players do their job right. This is Michael Cera's best role, in my opinion, though Johnny Simmons looks more like (and would have done a better job at portraying) Scott Pilgrim. Cera's geeky voice is fun to mock.

Visuals - 8-bit heaven, blended nicely with impressive live-action fight sequences. At times cartoony, but nonetheless fun and done with meaning - plenty of neat interpretive scenes, too.

Inventiveness - this film deserves to be seen and recognized for both its attempts and successes at being unique and inventive. When a foe is defeated, they turn into spare change. Genius!

Comedy - there's always a laugh or a chuckle every minute. Vegan Police - classic!

The Bad:

Story - the story wasn't terrible, but its length was. This film could have done its job at 90 minutes instead of 112. This is weird for me to say, because I love long movies. Makes me feel like I'm getting more for my buck, but in this case, I'll make an exception. Everything is overtly drawn out, leading up to the first evil ex. There are insanely fast-paced moments, followed by slug-slow drag-a-longs. It's as if this film can't decide if it's a parody on 80's video games, a sitcom, or an instruction flick on how to be emo. They should have played more on the video game aspect. That's what it sold me as, and the product did not fully deliver as advertised.

The Sum:

While this isn't the greatest film you will ever see, it's certainly your best entertainment choice for this slow month of August. Behold. A cult classic is born. Enjoy it while you can, since the majority of audiences decided they were too cool to pass this up during it's first weekend.

Interesting notes (that interested me):

Lucas Lee is played by Chris Evans, who has been cast to play Captain America.

Roxy Richter is played by Mae Whitman, who did the voice of Katara for the hit animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender (not to be confused by that odd-awful movie adaptation).

Todd Ingram is played by Brandon Routh, formerly known as Superman.

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Comments (27)

  1. IlikePie202

    sorry man I'm just SO tired today

    2 years agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  2. Diaigma

    Nothing wrong with disagreeing. Thanks :)

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  3. IlikePie202

    but it's not oscar worthy

    2 years agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  4. IlikePie202

    crap i meant to do thumbs up, good review but i still disagree. I'll thumbs up it.

    2 years agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  5. Diaigma

    So you thumb down my review because you disagree with my rating?

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  6. IlikePie202

    it's 5/5 star film! come on

    2 years agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  7. Diaigma

    A 5 is Oscar worthy, in my book. SP was fun, but not Oscar material. To each his own. Thanks for your comments, guys!

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  8. TheSHIZNIT

    Nice Review! But this film deserves 5 stars!

    2 years agoby @theshiznitFlag

  9. OhTheFilmNerd

    Sequel This Early Monekyiron, well yes wishful thinking, and dollar signs will be the only way that is gonig to happen, but no its done, no more now, they have done it, final, how many more ex evils has she not told him (dar, dar , dar suspenful music)
    NPE Edgar Wright Isnt that manic
    Or is he (dar, dar ,dar suspenful)
    Maybe not
    Or is he (dar, dra,dar suspenful) okay ill stop being ewatching mediocre horror films all day long

    2 years agoby @ohthefilmnerdFlag

  10. Monkeyiron

    i WISH THERE WAS A SEQUEL

    2 years agoby @monkeyironFlag

  11. OhTheFilmNerd

    truly great film

    2 years agoby @ohthefilmnerdFlag

  12. ejk1

    Agreed on the cult classic is born line. Great review, as always.

    2 years agoby @ejk1Flag

  13. DoubleR0522

    NICE REVIEW...U KNOW WHAT I LIKE ALL YOUR REVIEWS BECAUSE U TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

    2 years agoby @doubler0522Flag

  14. Emmytt

    @diaigma k then lol

    2 years agoby @emmyttFlag

  15. Diaigma

    Yeah. That's still theater worthy to me, though.

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  16. Emmytt

    only a 3.5?

    2 years agoby @emmyttFlag

  17. Diaigma

    @Paolo Sardinas - Nerd and I settled things, but thanks for your support. I thought about giving it a 3. At the time I wanted to give it a 4, but that's why I like to wait a few days first, to mull the film over in my head so I can choose a more suitable rating, for me. SP evoked my emotions. That's why I gave it the extra 0.5

    @OhTheFilmNerd - dude. Apologizing one minute and then start things up with someone else the next? My man Paolo called you out for what you said and how you presented yourself, nothing more. That's behind us now so lets not start again. Lay off the insults if you want to stick around. Thank you.

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  18. Paolo Sardinas

    Great review Diagima. Even though I liked it less I think you brought up some good points that hadn't occurred to me before.

    @B3njamin: I agree with the your comment on how the film should of had a faster pace about half way in I was already eying the exit and they had only gotten through two of the exes.

    @OhTheFilmNerd: Wow, way to be mature. Calling someone a "c*nt" is a real way to show your maturity level.

    2 years agoby @sardinasFlag

  19. B3njamin

    I caught myself checking the time while watching this movie more than once. I wish they would have kept a faster pace throughout. Also the last evil ex was a disappointment. Good review though!

    2 years agoby @b3njaminFlag

  20. T.Clark

    Good review, btw, Diaigma. I liked it a little less, though.

    2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  21. Monkeyiron

    Nice review

    2 years agoby @monkeyironFlag

  22. Diaigma

    Depends on who you are, I guess. I've ways heard it that way, even when I lived in LA.

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  23. T.Clark

    I've never heard Unbreakable referred to as a comic book movie, and people who do...well, they just shouldn't.

    But yeah, generally, when people say "video game" or "comic book movie," they mean an adaptation. I would say Scott Pilgrim is a comic book movie inspired by video games.

    But whatever.

    2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  24. Diaigma

    Well, then. Someone doesn't know how to take criticism well.
    Sorry you feel that way. And get off MW if you're going to be jerk.

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  25. Diaigma

    The jokes on you, @OhTheFilmNerd :P Here's why.
    SP is based on a graphic novel, yes, but for the film, they portray it (in parts) as a live-action video game. There's a difference between video game "adapted" movies and a plain video game-like movie. Just like how Unbreakable is considered a "comic-book-movie," even though it's not based on an actual comic book. For a film nerd, you should know this :P

    @TheREALavatah - thanks, brother :)

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  26. Dan

    Sounds like it plays to people with zero patience. Might check it out. Good review, dude.

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  27. T.Clark

    It's actually based on a comic book, but I suppose you could call it a video game movie since it has tons of video game-style graphics...that get really old lol

    2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag