Movie Review: ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’

Gabriel Stoffa

Do you like old video game references? Do you like anime references? Do you like jokes about hipsters? How would you like these all presented in a form akin to a comic book mixed with a music video that took some really trippy drugs?

Yes, this is a real movie, and its name is “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”

Now, realize I’m not saying this film is a contender for the American Film Institute top 100 list, but it is a really good time filled with laughs, comedy violence and very quotable dialogue — sadly though, it lacks nudity, so it won’t quite be granted the label of perfection.

The cast is the first thing I dug. Michael Cera, though he does tend to play the exact same character in other films, is perfect for the lead with his awkward, uncertain hesitation style of line delivery and personality.

Mark Webber, Alison Pill and Johnny Simmons play the bandmates everyone would want to have in order to have fun and still be a band doing more than admiring their own sphincters.

Kieran Culkin plays a the gay roommate role to such an entertaining degree that I wanted to have a roommate like him.

Ellen Wong plays the cutest little Asian fan you can imagine. She captures the high school girl mentality of latching on to what is cool very, very well — all that was missing was her texting while driving and the image would have been sealed.

Aubrey Plaza adds laughs in her usual sort of role: somewhat sarcastic and bitchy, but still attractive and detached. Meanwhile, Anna Kendrick plays a comedic role that makes up for her questionable association to the “Twilight” franchise.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the girl oh-so-many guys pine over as they dream about meeting an alternative chick with personality, looks and a mind; and let me tell you, she portrays it well.

Just to drop a few more names, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Mae Whitman and Jason Schwartzman all make appearances as evil exes, and all keep the the laughs rolling through over-the-top characters and ridiculous pop culture references. Basically it is like taking some of the better random amateur fan-favorite YouTube videos, and doing them professionally for the silver screen.

After the cast, I have to complement the story. On the surface, it is a love story and a quest to discover who you are and what is important to you.

Simple enough.

The kicker hits with the way in which it is told. The characters battle like something out of a kung fu flick, but with video game sounds and word-bubble “bams” and “pows” after the fashion of the Adam WestBatman” series.

To make things better, the choreography and effects are not shabby. It’s no “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” but it is eye candy-ish in a non 3-D way.

Not only are problems solved through cartoonish violence, but the dialogue occurring during actually has some substance; though much of the substance isn’t too deep, more mocking and sarcastic.

Next on my list of gushing admiration for this film, the music. Even when the story is blatantly poking fun at a given music style, the actual music is engaging and not only adds to the film, but helps define it. It’s a soundtrack worth owning. But then, that is how the comic originally laid it out, so the producers would have had to go out of their way to ruin it.

To go with the soundtrack, I have to mention the costumes. I know, I know, it isn’t really an amazing feat to create hipster clothing or capture the current fads. But this movie nailed so many styles popular with people from teenagers to the Generation X adults, that I have to applaud it; especially as Cera wears multiple Smashing Pumpkins — my favorite band — T-shirts.

As mentioned before, the movie is quotable. It’s not “The Big Lebowski” amazing level dialogue, but it has enough subtlety and wit to allow for multiple viewings.

The only complaints I may have had quickly melted away as the next round of chuckles overtook me; not only at the time, but in discussing the film later and even as I write this review.

I have to admit I have a bias toward comic books and things labeled alternative — as if you hadn’t guessed that already. Despite my bias, I recommend this movie to anyone looking for a some quality laughs steeped in pop references.

Get yourself to the theater. Go with a date, go with a friend, go by yourself or even go for multiple viewings, regardless, go see “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”