There could be no more apt description of the film based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic book series than the phrase “style over substance”. For Scott Pilgrim vs. The World has style coming out the wazoo. From the opening credits to the end credits it is a unique, visually brilliant film, well worth watching for that very reason alone. But its style with a capital “S” magnifies the weak script and leaves the viewer wondering what could have been had the story been penned by someone with the writing chops to match the visual splendor.
That is not to say that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a complete waste of time in the story department. There are moments of witty dialogue, some genuinely ‘laugh out loud’ bits, and the ending goes a long way towards redeeming what is otherwise a script that misuses the cast’s potential. For those not in the know, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the story of Scott Pilgrim, a 22 year old bass player in a wannabe band who falls fast and hard for a mysterious girl with funky hair, Ramona Flowers. After quickly engaging in a relationship with Flowers, he discovers that he will have to battle her seven evil ex’s in order to keep the relationship alive.
I’ve been a fan of Mary Elizabeth Winstead since her turn as cheerleader-turned-collateral in Robert Rodriquez’ grindhouse film, Death Proof, and enjoyed her role as Bruce Willis’ daughter in Live Free and Die Hard. As I have a thing for funky chicks, the moment I saw her big round eyes and bright pink hair I was smitten. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, she isn’t given much to do other than act quasi-aloof and frequently change hair color. She has a few fun moments, particularly in her action scenes, and I suspect she did the most with what she was given. Michael Cera is Michael Cera. I suspect one either likes him or doesn’t. The script allows him to be himself, which is good if you like him, but even as a fan I wanted to see a bit more. The scene-stealer of the entire film is Ellen Wong as Knives Chau, the innocent 17 yr. old high school student that Scott Pilgrim is dating at the start of the film. She has more life and energy and interest than the rest of the cast combined and in large part she saves the film from being a complete and total waste in the story department. Perhaps most disappointing was Kieran Culkin, not because I was expecting much from him, but because I felt his role derailed the main storyline and was the kind of young twenty-something cliche that has been done to death.
We have all seen countless films with the stereotypical male character whose sole purpose is to have as many sexual conquests as possible. The ‘twist’ in this film is that the character is gay. I couldn’t help think, as I watched the oft repeated, and not really funny, gag of him waking up with new partners in his bed, that the homosexual community must be annoyed, at the very least, by this portrayal. In an age where homosexual couples are fighting for the right to legally consummate committed relationships, seeing a boring, disaffected gay character bounce from guy to guy to guy can’t be anything to point to with pride. I am not sure if this storyline is in O’Malley’s original comic book series, but if it isn’t, shame on the writers for trying to breath new life into a tired film stereotype by making the character gay.
I think I am most disappointed in this film because of what it could have been. I was spoiled by Juno. Diablo Cody proved that you can marry intelligent writing to teen comedy, make it look unique, add an incredible soundtrack, and make something Oscar-worthy. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World has some interesting music, has a visual style that pretty much tops anything I have seen at the theater this year, and it goes off the rails because of a very weak story that has way too few brilliant moments to make a viewer want to come back to it again.
On the whole I’ll give Scott Pilgrim vs. The World a 3 out of 5 star rating. Visually and musically it is a real treat. But don’t expect it to grab hold of you the way other well done young adult romantic comedies have done in the past. Style does win out over substance, which is a real shame.
Thanks for your thoughts on this movie. I was not all that intrigued with the movie based on it’s trailers and now after reading your take, I know that this movie is not for me. I have too many other movies on my recommended viewing list that I want to get to.
By the way, I do like Michael Cera but not enough to view this one. I thought he was good in Juno, and I have seen him in a few other flicks that I liked just don’t remember the names right now. He is a fun type actor, not one that I take too seriously.
Ouch man! This one sounds like a stinker. Well it’s atleast it’s not as bad as Frank Miller’s, The Spirit, which sent me to the hospital. Too bad you couldn’t have used those free passes in retrospect. Sorry buddy. Maybe you could follow this up with a viewing of Cera in Year One. 🙂
Jeff: Oh, don’t remind me.That one has to rank as one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. This one was much, much…MUCH more interesting throughout but then ended up being much ado about nothing. Spirit stunk from about 30 seconds in! Ah well, James and I had fun hanging out anyway.
I think I’ll hold off on Year One for awhile, ha!
Ibeeg: There are a bunch on my list to see as well, too many actually, as my Netflix queue indicates! I’ve liked Cera in several movies. Paper Heart is one that is interesting on many levels and is much better written and acted…and very sweet as well.
Oh, it was fun enough.
The gay stuff was very annoying to me. There are movies with gay characters and then there are movies about being gay. This thing couldn’t decide which it was and so when you walk away you spend too much time trying to make sense out of that part of the story. You can literally strip all those scenes out of the movie and it doesn’t change where the story went. That’s bad writing.
The creative fight scenes and graphics made up enough to keep me from feeling really disappointed that we went to see it.
Ellen Wong definitely stole the show. They did stereotype her a little with the catholic schoolgirl character.
James: I was wondering if you’d get over here to weigh in on it. I thought it was fun too, but I secretly wanted it to be a movie in the class of Juno and that’s my mistake for having those kind of expectations.
And I agree with all of your points.
I just want to put in a good word for the original comic. I read several volumes and loved them. I’m not going to the movie out of devotion to them and because I’m just sick of Michael Cera.
The gay roommate is in the comics–in the comics the two share a bed actually. I think the conquest after conquest is fairly accurate for many gay men in their early 20’s. It’s also true for lots of straight men in their early 20’s. In the comics that subplot is used to make a point about Scott’s story line and it works very well.
I can’t speak for the movie.
cbjames: Well I’m glad to hear that the gay room mate angle is in the books. They shared a bed in the movie too, and it had a few nice laughs. And it may be an accurate portrayal of the course for certainly some gay men in their 20’s. To me the portrayal, especially as it was played by Culkin, was a combination of yet another character who treats relationships as nothing more than one conquest after another, and I guess I’m too old to find that particularly amusing anymore, and a very sad and pathetic character. If the movie was about how pathetic and empty that one character’s life was then it would have the potential to be an interesting story. But as the comic relief it just didn’t work for me. I didn’t find anything funny about what amounts to a very sad, empty way of life, be the character gay or straight. And it probably does work well in the comic, which makes me even more disappointed that the writers couldn’t make it a worthwhile relationship, friendship, etc. in the movie. To me the only valid reason for the character to exist in the film was to establish that Scott had a place to stay that wasn’t his own. Other than that the role was a complete waste.
I don’t blame you for your loyalty to the comic. I feel that way about certain books and comics too…I don’t want anyone to even try to make them into a film because they’ll ruin the spirit that the original captured.