WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a movie that I could watch a thousand times over.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a sci-fi, romance, action comedy film co-produced, written, and directed by Edgar Wright. It features comic-like action and fever dream CGI to create a marvel of a film.
The cast is an epic ensemble, featuring Micheal Cera as Scott Pilgrim, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers, and film stars like Brie Larson, Chris Evans, and Anna Kendrick in smaller roles. The movie is based on the Scott Pilgrim comic series by Bryan Lee O’Malley.
This movie was an epic first watch. I knew from the 8-bit animated Universal Studios opening with similar style music that this was going to be peak. And I was not mistaken.
This movie pulled me in from the beginning sequences. Coming in at 1 hour and 52 minutes, this movie is a treat from start to finish. One thing I loved immediately was the eccentric animation style reminiscent of the comic books I grew up on. I’m sure that this was intentional, but regardless I loved this movie all the way through.
I am so fond of the retro gaming style. I was born in the late 2000s, so this style in gaming and cartoons and comics is something I never got the chance to bask in, however it’s something I love to acknowledge and come back to.
The world-building in this movie is something that I also enjoy. It’s not overbearing or direct like how most comic books start out, it’s patient and intricate in how it wraps you into its world. The simple edits, cuts, and changes made during the course of the movie are so slick. They coincide with all the quirks of the characters and how the plot advances and I love every bit of it. Attention to detail is such a treat in movies.
The CGI in this film holds up to this day, and I’d argue that Scott Pilgrim was ahead of its time. The emotional content, the writing, the directing, the animation. Everything about this movie and story holds up to this day. It’s exactly what a movie should be. It’s a fun time, and doesn’t apologize or overcompensate for being a fun time. It simply is.
Wallace and Scott’s dynamic is also something I love a lot. Their friendship was one of my favorite parts of the movie. Wallace was one of my favorite characters, as well. I loved his wits and quick responses, as well as the sly wisdom he gave to Scott along his journey. He was nonchalant most of the time, but you could tell he cared. That’s one of my favorite character tropes.
The movie is so relentlessly funny too. Like Todd’s character alone is hilarious to me.
“At first you were a vegone, but now you will begone.” ~ Scott Pilgrim, 2010.
Every character in this film is so perfectly cast. Every single actor brings something fresh to the table that elevates the movie. Chris Evan’s is a prime example of this. Lucas Lee was the best evil ex of this movie, and his character was so absurdly funny.
One “gripe” that I have with this movie is not so much with the film itself, just my personal experience with the movie. I wished that the movie had maybe one or two scenes before it immediately thrashes you into it. Something to establish it. However, in the context of the plot it doesn’t really make sense because of how the overall story is told. Still, I wish the movie had a bit of filler or fluff.
I also love the ending sequence of this movie. Scott Pilgrim couldn’t defeat Ramona’s final evil ex on the basis of power alone – he had to use the power of self-respect (among other things) to defeat him. This is significant to me because it’s a very wise lesson on the importance of self-love and respect. I have a personal theory that Gideon is a direct juxtaposition of Scott. Scott wallowed in his own self-pity throughout the entire movie. He felt bad about himself and always put his problems onto others. By the end of the film, however, Scott has become better. When Scott faces Nega Scott, he remains indifference and befriends him.
Gideon, however, represents Scott if he had remained in his ways. Gideon was driven by his own motives, he ignored Ramona and only appreciated who she was to him when she left. The same can be said about Knives and Scott’s relationship. Scott used her as a crutch for his own pain, and when he leaves her – he starts to question things when his relationship with Ramona got rocky. Scott and Knives reconcile in the end, and Knives gives Scott the final push to go after the Ramona. To go after the girl. And he does. He gets the girl. They walk off into a utopia, and that’s the end of the story.
I think, however, that if Scott were to have never changed, he would have become Gideon. Someone stuck in his ways, high off his own being – he would never know empathy or his own self worth.
I can go on forever and ever about how much I love this movie. From the small details, to the grand soundtrack and sound design, to the direction and how well the story is told – this movie is perfect. I could watch this movie for eternity and not ever get tired of it.
Overall, I rate this movie a 10 out of 10 and highly recommend this movie to every human being on Earth. It’s such a fun movie to watch, and everyone should tune in.
Scott Pilgrim v. The World is now streaming only on Netflix, alongside a new anime ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off!’, produced by Netflix.
