Scott Pilgrim vs the World
Knives Chau: I’ve never even kissed a guy before.
Scott Pilgrim: Hey… me neither.
“Scott Pilgrim vs the World” is truly an unusual case in the film world, worthy of (pro)studying. Financially speaking, it turned out to be a miss. On a budget of 60-85 million dollars (hard to find exact estimate), the film barely reached 50 million and film critics gave it quite average ratings. But on the other hand, the film gained almost cult status among audiences, got tons of nominations and awards, had excellent actors and story, as well as visual and musical aspect.
What’s it about?
Somewhere in a backwater part of Canada (well, it’s Toronto), lives loser 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim. He has no perspective in life (nor idea about it). He’s bass guitarist in one small indie rock band (Sex Bob-Omb) with hope maybe they’ll become a bit more famous. And he’s dating 17-year-old Catholic school high schooler (with school uniform), who’s moreover Chinese-Canadian, Knives Chau. Scott is criticized by everyone for this relationship (friends from band, his sister Stacey, as well as gay roommate Wallace), because they’re aware he has some platonic relationship with her, as well as that he’s with her for appearance’s sake (because he’s recovering from a hard breakup last year), and that this isn’t right toward Knives, who’s delighted with him.
Everything changes when Scott accidentally meets a girl named Ramona Flowers, whom he previously saw in his dream, and thinks fate is at work here, and tries to meet her and hook up with her (which somehow succeeds)… except he completely forgot about Knives and to inform her about the breakup…
However, besides eccentric appearance and behavior, Ramona Flowers also has her emotional “baggage.” Of course, everyone will say they have something emotionally painful in the past that’s hard to overcome, however, Ramona’s emotional baggage will (literally) hit Scott in the nose and that just as he started dating Ramona.
Namely, for Scott to really officially (and peacefully) date Ramona, he must fulfill one (impossible) mission… and that’s to defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes… who all have some superpowers. And moreover Knives can’t forgive Ramona for stealing her boyfriend.
Now, whether Scott can defeat Ramona’s evil exes and start a normal(?) emotional life, you’ll find out if you watch “Scott Pilgrim vs the World.”
Now, why is, despite seemingly simple and silly plot, this film phenomenal?
From the visual side, elements are combined because of which the film often resembles a mix of comic and (retro) video game. Silly stylized environments combined with CGI + comic graphic elements create truly unique film energy. Especially interesting are Scott’s showdowns with Ramona’s exes, which vary from kung fu showdowns, sword fighting, through skateboard riding to musical showdowns (everything resembles those big video game arcade machines that are still common in Japan and US and rare here… you know what I mean, those games where you must simultaneously move and follow commands on screen), and even summoning mystical creatures (when did you last watch a film that had demonic hipster cheerleaders, snow dragons and musical yeti… yes, you read that correctly). Oh yes, and for each defeated Ramona ex, Scott, like in retro video games, gets coins.
Since we already mentioned action, quite (un)expectedly martial arts element is inserted, but it perfectly fit into the film! Scott Pilgrim is (unexpectedly) more than capable of fighting equally with multiple opponents simultaneously, as well as with Ramona’s evil exes, who represent something like “bosses” in video games.
Music is a very important element for “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” (because one of the themes is also musical clash of bands, known in Old Slavonic as battle of the bands) and truly manages to excellently compose into the film, so we’ll hear music of many (Canadian and American) indie rock bands like Broken Social Scene, Metric, Black Lips, T.Rex, but also names like Beck and The Rolling Stones… so viewers truly can’t have complaints about the film’s musical aspect.
Let’s touch on actors too. Today a large number of these actors you know as big stars, but in the period when they filmed “Scott Pilgrim vs the World,” many of them didn’t have too many films under their belt or just started establishing themselves as actors. But in the end, everyone did an excellent job. First star is the titular character, played by goofy Michael Cera (who already before this film gained popularity thanks to films “Juno” and “Superbad,” and you saw him in “Barbie” as well as series “Arrested Development”) who excellently acted slightly tangled and witty Scott Pilgrim. Unusual and detached from world Ramona Flowers was played by talented Mary Elizabeth Winstead (I mentioned her in “Birds of Prey” and “Love Death and Robots,” and recently you could see her in series “Fargo” and “Ahsoka”). Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) is hilarious as Wallace, Scott’s cool gay roommate and friend. And as for some of Ramona’s evil exes, there’s also Captain America as bushy-browed Clinteastwood-ish skater-actor-bad boy Lucas Lee; Superman / The Atom as arrogant bassist who has superpowers because he’s vegan; then brief but hilarious role by Satya Bhabha (“Sense8”) as Matthew Patel with Bollywood powers; as well as main villain full of money and manipulative powers Gideon, played by Jason Schwartzman (“Rushmore,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”). Worth mentioning also Ellen Wong (“GLOW”) as Knives Chau, Captain Marvel as Scott’s narcissistic ex-girlfriend Envy Adams and Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreations”) as grumpy Julie who constantly swears and everything annoys her.
Now, why is “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” for many unofficially a film masterpiece, but officially “listed” as average film. You have various theories and analyses on the internet, but I’ll give my own view here:
- For starters, the film didn’t clearly define genre, but is some strange amalgam of romantic comedy, martial arts, musical and fantasy (and probably something else), with lots of visual colorfulness as combination of comic and video game, which was probably unusual for many.
- The film (whether consciously or unconsciously) “aimed” at a slightly specific youthful niche that’s a lover of video games, comics and indie music, and also had that nerd/geek vibe moreover, which is why there’s high probability that, at the film’s release time, few people over 30 could understand the film… as well as probably those under 30 who aren’t lovers of aforementioned.
- Then, the film itself is twisted, like the original comic, which surely doesn’t sit well with many
- A good part of the audience isn’t at all a fan of main actor Michael Cera
- The very character Scott Pilgrim isn’t that likeable to many (in fact, I think he’s one of the least likeable protagonists in film world), because besides being insecure unemployed lazy guy, he often tends to be insensitive and rush into conflict or say things without thinking… in fact, this is the definition of large number of young people, so maybe this is even expected… Interestingly you’ll have impression everyone around Scott (including villains, i.e., Ramona’s evil exes) are much more mature than him
- The film has some stereotypical elements (especially regarding Asians and LGBT population), but there’s probability that due to the film’s very specificity these elements are deliberately presented that way for humor purposes
- I think a good part of both male and female population didn’t like Ramona Flowers’ character, who’s presented as two-dimensional person who seems to (hot-cold, or better said, lukewarm-cold) toy with Scott a bit, and moreover broke previous boyfriends’ hearts as if on whim. Besides that, she’s one of the examples of manic pixie dream girl
However, all this should be taken with reservation, because the film, in the end, chose to be specific and twisted. And again, the central theme is young people in early 20s. They’re mostly lost in space and time, don’t know what they want from life, tend to be very selfish in their actions and justify themselves. And when it comes to love, they tend to overly idealize the other side and overlook their flaws (objectively psychologically speaking, Ramona is a very problematic character in many aspects, and Scott isn’t much better either). And if the other side is at all attractive, then hormones do their thing, and then it’s even easier to manipulate them…
But I think all this still can’t (much) spoil the film itself, which has quite a lot of good jokes, starting from narrator, through easter eggs (“Zelda,” “Super Mario,” “Street Fighter” and Shoryuken, “X-Men,” “Soul Calibur,” “Fantastic Four,” “Double Dragon”), through symbolic and unusual elements. For example, during meeting and showdown with each of Ramona’s exes (to whom one number from 1-7 is assigned), there are many (in)visible details where precisely that particular number is found; Ramona gives Scott a couple seconds after he asks her how many exes she has on list (which is laminated?); when Ramona gives Scott phone number on paper slip, below it are seven x’s which Scott interpreted as kisses, but aren’t; scene between Scott and Wallace that’s a parody of sitcom with audience laughing and applauding behind camera; Brie Larson as Envy doesn’t blink once during her scenes, to more resemble anime character; green monster Scott summons at one point is symbol of his jealousy and insecurity and many other interesting details.
I, for example, liked the detail when Scott gets at one point like in video games an extra life (1UP), which actually turns out before the film’s end to be a “Chekhov’s gun” (narrative principle that every element inserted in story must have its purpose).
All in all, “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” is one of those films I can always watch. Maybe because I watched it when it just appeared, when I was at the beginning of my 20s, maybe because I was always a video game lover, maybe there was always a bit of geek/nerd nature in me… and maybe also because the film is simply excellent, likeable, fun and relaxing to watch. 😊
As far as I’m concerned, always a recommendation for this film.
Dear reader, have you watched this film so far? 🙂
Trailer | Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Format: Film | Premiere: 2010 | Runtime: 112 minutes
