8/13/10

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The poster says this is "An Epic of Epic Epicness" and I guess that's a fairly good description. Based on yet another graphic novel, this one is really, really graphic: The title sequence is psychedelic; the deafening guitar music is visible; words flash on the screen when a character crashes through a brick wall or strikes an opponent; cute little hearts erupt from lips during a kiss; and CGI-driven martial arts have never been so blindingly vivid.

This Canadian film is set in Toronto. Director Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz") takes uber-bland actor Michael Cera ("Juno" and "Superbad") and:
  • has his character play a guitar with a garage band preparing for a Battle of the Bands;
  • gives him an underage girlfriend, played by Ellen Wong in the role of her lifetime...so far...;
  • has him share an apartment with a gay pal, wittily played by Kieran Culkin ("Paper Man");
  • blesses him with a practical sister, portrayed by Anna Kendrick ("Up in the Air");
  • then has him fall for a purple-haired rollerblading UPS delivery girl, smoothly played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Grind- house").
This attractive young woman comes with considerable baggage, i.e., seven ex lovers who must be defeated in battle before our eponymous hero can win her heart. The plot is absurd, the fighting is completely over the top, the characters haven't an ounce of believability and the jam-packed audience of young adults ate it up!

So who am I to say.....?