Hola all. Massawyrm here.
Holy shit. Talk about a film that lives up to its hype. There is something undeniably brilliant about SCOTT PILGRIM, and it has little to do with its blending of pop culture elements with fantasy. In fact, what is ultimately so great about it has little at all to do with its comedy or nearly endless stream of in-jokes. Early on in the process of advertising the film, two elements stuck out to a number of film writers – 1) that Ramona Flowers keeps dying her hair different colors and 2) an overhead shot of two people walking in the snow. These elements seemed oddly familiar. Instantly, people asked: what’s with the ETERNAL SUNSHINE vibe? While this allusion was quickly dismissed once all the 8bit video game insanity hit the web, watching the final product I couldn’t help but see a direct comparison – though not at all in its characters or shot structure.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, with all its Michel Gondry-ness, is a powerful, incredible metaphor for the cycle of abuse many people sign onto when getting into relationships; it is about how readily we fall into patterns and succumb to the same traps. SCOTT PILGRIM is remarkably similar, though it broaches a very different theme. Through its radical imagery and pop culture references, SCOTT PILGRIM is a film about working through your bullshit, while systematically wrestling with the bullshit baggage that comes with loving another human being. It would be easy to dismiss this film as a jokey, fun, hipster romp about a guy who has to fight his girlfriend’s seven evil exes – but that’s not REALLY what this film is about.
As Wright has said in a number of interviews, he sees the story of SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD as a daydream – and that shows through his interpretation of the work as we occasionally see reality, glance away, then return to see the fantasy of the fight. In truth, every single fight scene is a representation of Pilgrim discovering and having to wrestle with another aspect of his girlfriend’s past. While it appears that everything happening is a Slam! Bam! Rock ‘em Sock ‘em fight to the finish, it is really about a guy having to deal with his girlfriend having a famous ex-boyfriend, or having dated a girl or being hung up on an ex. Every scene has two meanings. And the more you focus upon the humor and pop culture references, the easier it is to miss it.
SCOTT PILGRIM is a film more about love, damage and the folly of youth than it is anything else. The tone of the film is surprising. All of the advertising and initial word on the film seems to lend towards the “you’re going to have such a great time” variety, and then you walk in, sit down and find yourself confronted by an unexpected familiarity. Sure, it is every bit as funny, exhilarating and joyous as it appears – but it is so much deeper than it wants to let on. Through sheer, seemingly inane goofiness, this film gets to the heart of the often infantile feelings, petty jealousies and unmitigated juvenility that comes out when addressing the issues of a lover’s former loves. And as cool as the film touts Ramona Flowers to be, we see firsthand how uncool she is when things get heavy. Sure, you can walk away saying “How awesome was it that they turned to coins when they got hit with a sword,” but deep down, there’s a good chance you are going to begin thinking about that girl you dated who’s “first” was with a football player and only dated you because you were a “more sensitive” guy.
Edgar Wright is a mad genius. He has a knack for making films that are seemingly about one thing, but actually play out as something else. SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ are brilliant parodies – but that’s not what this is. This isn’t about pointing out a section of pop culture only to dissect it while providing a perfect example of it. No, this is a very deep, metaphorical film about love. It just also happens to be as scathingly funny as Wright’s previous films. SCOTT PILGRIM is occasionally fall out of your chair hilarious. It puts a smile on your face and keeps delivering with moment after moment until you think you can take no more, only to cap you off with a killer climax; it wants very much to be a good time at the movies.
Each of the evil exes exists on two very different levels. On the surface they are brutish bullies, each with looks and lives that dwarf Scott Pilgrim’s; beneath, they are burnt, bitter and broken about being abandoned by this incredibly desirable girl. Each actor given the chance to speak a word nails it. Most importantly, every member of its ensemble cast evokes a certain charm that will make the audience either fall in love with them or equally despise them for their tortured wickedness. Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona is a delightfully aloof love interest, while Kieran Culkin’s gay best-friend/roommate is equally ridiculously witty. Anna Kendrick is slowly becoming a woman whose performances rivet me no matter how little screen time she gets, and here she commandeers every scene from Michael Cera she’s given – proving once again that she is one of the finest supporting actresses working in her age bracket. Nobody falters here. Everyone delvers. And that goes for everyone *including* Michael Cera.
Cera’s been catching a lot of flak as of late, due to his penchant for playing the same kind of characters – the nerdy, awkward, lovable losers. He is to young angst what Bruce Willis is to action or Humphrey Bogart was to bad boys – not only dependable, but your go-to guy if you can get him. Here Cera is afforded the opportunity to do something he never is: to ramp up to heroism. Scott Pilgrim doesn’t start a hero, but he sure ends like one, and Cera embodies that transformation perfectly – even when he does fall back on old tricks that some are grumbling about.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD is a searing, incredibly touching comedy that hits everything it aims at and works on multiple levels. It is not, as it might appear, hipster-driven popcorn fare, but rather a wonderfully constructed fairy tale with an awful lot to say about the human condition. This isn’t just a great film – it is very easily Top 10 material. There is so much going on here, so much to parse out, that I find it impossible to dismiss as merely fun. SCOTT PILGRIM is brilliant - in every sense of the word. And it should be viewed and digested at the earliest opportunity. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Until next time friends,
Massawyrm
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