I had previously in a review talked about the current market of book adaptation movies. Instead of puttting more salt in the wound with my opinion of the literature world, I want to discuss my philosophy on the adaptation process. When a book, regardless if it's a novella or a graphic novel, becomes a feature length film, there needs to be a democractic structure to both the original work and the vision of the director and/or, very sadly, the studio's. If you stay too close to the word, you simply make it stale and smug to normal audiences and only please the hardcore fanbase. If you have your own way, you can cause much derision with the established fans and annoy the casual viewers.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD is a very good example of the stable relationship. With the kinetic film auteurship of Edgar Wright and the off-beat action/melodrama comics by Bryan Lee O'Malley, the film is a vibrant, hyper-fast comedic tour-de-force that's true to the source while also dotting the "i"'s and fixing the errors. However, like that long hyperbole, the film is over-the-top the entire two hours and may cause some to crash hard and become bitter.
Set in the mythical land of Toronto, Canada, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a broke 23-year-old who juggles his failed job life with his failing music career in a indie rock band with his friends. The only promising note also has some bad taste among his peers, and he starts dating a 17-year-old high school student (Ellen Wong). But Scott's life becomes more exciting and less depressing with the arrival of a new girl named Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). He now has to deal with breaking up with one while also coming face to face with the seven ex's of the other.
I purposely left out mentioning all of the video game humor, raucous rock music, and explosive action fights that fills and breaks the brim of this film because at its heart it is a tale about young adult life today. It even looks back at fondness to the "brat pack" films; The movie literally ends the same the way as a mixture of PRETTY IN PINK and SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL. Edgar Wright, along with co-writer Michael Bacall, has made a major action picture that comments on the lifestyles of my current generation. Instead of dealing with our own emotions and past misjudgments, we feel that we need to show-off our guitar skills at playing the theme to Final Fantasy II or tell the history of Pac-Man. The love and devotion to simple entertainment is our excuse to remain human shells and become morally unhappy.
I think that's enough with the serious discussion of the film, especially since SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD is very idiosyncratic. The film's humor is split into the two usual categories of Edgar Wright films: dry, cynical wit and hammy in-on-the-joke slapstick. The young adult protagonists are saddled with the obvious distinction of cynicism, with Alison Pill as the female drummer Kim as the main spotlight for it. The seven evil ex's of Ramona certainly showcase the latter, with Chris Evans and Brandon Routh being the main highlights. Overall, the cast is very good in their roles though Michael Cera is a little hit-or-miss at times despite being the perfect representation of Scott. The best acting is displayed by Kieran Culkin, as Scott's gay roommate, and most definitely by Ellen Wong as the 17-year-old girlfriend Knives Chau. Wong really brings the true heart to the proceedings and the melodramatic moments.
As for the extra eccentric humor touches, such as the videogame references and subtitling, I thoroughly enjoyed them and relish seeing them in high-profile films. I do like Wright's on-the-nose witticism, such as having the continue screen of a video game as a metaphor for a relationship. It also works with the music of the movie; smugness has never come out more from a character with the inclusion of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb." Other than simply the comedy aspect, Wright does a great job with the blocking of scenes and mise en scene. There are a lot of in-jokes and creative decisions that make a fight scene or a romantic talk even more magical.
As stated already, the circus-like behavior of SCOTT PILGRIM will leave some viewers to lose focus and become enraged. There is a lot of things being thrown out at your eyes and ears, thus guaranteeing this film to be successful when it hits DVD as with Wright's other films. Even with all of the jolly times I had with the film, I felt that the fights just came way too close to each other, especially at the end. The biggest error not to be corrected from the comics was the decision to include the idea of Subspace. The brief scenes where it is mentioned are so out-of-nowhere even for its own identity as an absurd film. It didn't make much sense in the books and it is even more distracting on the big screen.
Regardless of implementing the kitchen sink method of filmmaking, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD is an entertaining and enlighting film to help close out the summer release schedule. It is one of the few comic book movies to not hold on to the source too tight, unlike WATCHMEN, and simply try to play the field as well. It is great, it is odd, and it may even cause you to think about your life.
FINAL REVIEW: 4 / 5
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