MOVIE WORLD ... SCOTT PILGRIM vs THE WORLD

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SCOTT PILGRIM vs THE WORLD

Perfect Match was one of the most popular Australian game shows produced in the 80’s.  Hosted by the ever smooth Greg Evans and ably assisted by Dexter the Robot, its dating game contrivances unearthed a plethora of desperate romantics.  Tacky, mesmerising and hilarious all at once, it showed what a mine-field the search for love can be.   Scott Pilgrim’s pursuit of his ideal partner is no less traumatic mirroring the multi-level challenges faced by the show’s wayward couples.

Strumming his guitar in an indie rock band, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) reckons life can’t be much better.  When Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) arrives he learns it can.  With her grungy looks capturing his eye, he wants to become her boyfriend.  In order to do so he must battle her seven evil ex-boyfriends who have thunder in their hearts.  Fighting against identical twins, rock stars and furious skateboarders, Scott wonders why the path to romance has to be littered with such insidious obstacles.

Based on a graphic novel series, ‘Scott Pilgrim’ is an innovative addition to the genre.  Its story isn’t anything new as the basic ‘boy meets girl’ formula is merely an excuse for a full-blown visual feast.  Utilising a broad pop culture palette with lashings of Manga style fight sequences, director Edgar Wright attempts to visualise the character’s raging emotions in spectacular fashion.  He isn’t interested in telling a logical story – the film steadfastly rebels in straying too far into convention – with his inventive flair helped by some perfectly pitched acting.

That isn’t to say it’s completely fantastic as it occasionally threatens to buckle under the weight of its technological self-indulgence.  Why it doesn’t can be attributed to its editing, as each scene literally unfolds into the next with blinding speed.  This makes ‘Scott Pilgrim’ feel like a natural progression for those bought up on playing fast computer games.  As its story focuses on the fickleness of love the excision of the more mundane aspects of typical date movies dovetails well into its theme of fleeting relationships.

It’ll be very interesting to see how audiences react to ‘Scott Pilgrim’ as its rich stylised production may be an acquired taste.  Whether it turns into a trail-blazer or a grand folly remains to be seen, although it manages to show a lot old fashioned romance within the confines of techno-wizardry.

Movie Review Rating  7 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

SCOTT PILGRIM vs THE WORLD released in Australia on Thursday 12 August 2010.

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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

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