Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: Power Up!
Lets get this out in the open from the get-go; “Hello, my name is Paul Moxham and I’m a film loving, computer game playing comic book reader.” So imagine my delight at the arrival of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. Directed by Edgar Wright, the man almost wholly responsible for making British films cool again with Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz and it’s based on a comic book that is heavily inspired by the computer games of the 80s and 90s.
Describing the plot takes 10 seconds but you’ll probably end up reading it a few more times to check that was what I really meant to write. In order to be with Ramona, the girl of his dreams, young unassuming Scott Pilgrim must defeat her seven evil exes. The film ignites in an Adam West’s Batman on industrial quantities of blue smarties way; and when your hero’s environment is a cold Canadian winter the action looks even more brilliant as everyday life repeatedly headbutts a Nintendo.
From the custom Universal logo, I knew my excitement was well invested. Wright is the ideal director for the material, the energy, relationships and humour found in the comic wouldn’t seem out of place in an episode of Spaced. The thing that stood out to me is that the necessary parts of the film that usually contribute weren’t just helping out the story, they are as important to the overall film as any of the actors. Although for the most part those actors are no slouches; Michael Cera does do his socially awkward routine for the umpteenth time, but all the other times feel like practice for this one. The best of the bunch are Keiran Culkin as Scott’s sardonic gay room mate and Jason Schwartzman as Evil Ex #7 Gideon Graves (warning, I’m about to unapologetically show off) a role he told me he relished when I was lucky enough to get 5 minutes to chat to him (CLANG!).
This is the closest a film has ever got to embracing computer games so references like enemies bursting into coins and the name of Scott’s band (if you get it you can pick up an application for your nerd card in the foyer) may be lost on many but that doesn’t make them any less entertaining.
This is a film like no other, it will blow your mind. It’s the coolest film of the summer, and it knows it. It is slick, original and retro all at the same time and can’t be confined to simple conventions. Which is why it has pretty much tanked at the American box office. Get out there and prepare to appreciate what they missed. Press start to continue…
