Film File - Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a perfect example of the times many of us are currently living through - charming but jobless. A bass guitarist with garage band Sex Bob-Omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams ... literally. However, there's a price to be paid for winning the heart of the elusive and mysterious Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) - her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend, it's managing them that causes the hassle. Attempting to juggle the emotions brought on by a former flame who broke his heart and who's now back in town again to the teen cutie, Knives (Ellen Wong) he's currently trying to dump, all is pretty normal in Scott's life until Ramona rollerblades into it. Smitten with a capital S, Pilgrim is on cloud nine until he discovers the stormy weather coming his way in the form of her seven exes who are determined to erase him by any means possible as a suitor for her affections. The closer Scott gets closer to Ramona, the worse the conflicts with her former lovers get as the hapless guitarist locks horns with wacky skateboarders, vegan rock stars and fearsome identical twins. To win this fair lady's heart, Scott Pilgrim will have to negotiate a minefield of trouble. Backing up Cera and Winstead in the teen crowd pleaser are: Kieran Culkin as Scott's main buddy, Wallace; Chris Evans as pro-skateboarder action star Lucas Lee; Anna Kendrick as Scott's feisty younger sister, Stacey; Brandon Routh as power vegan bassist Todd Ingram; and Jason Schwartzman as the leader of the 'League of Evil Exes', Gideon Graves. Based on the novel, Scott Pilgrim's 'Precious Little Life', the project was immediately optioned for director Edgar Wright following his schlock-horror-comedy debut on the 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Shaun Of The Dead' films. The finished product wraps much of teen culture into an appealing stew of indie rock, animated violence, video game pace and lashings of quirky humour and sharp observations on youth life. Like all his previous films, Cera dominates the screen with that winning winsome appeal laced with ironic wit that all the gals die for (a scenario that's probably the same in real life). In a band with pals named Stephen Stills and Young Neil - but no sign of Graham Nash or David Crosby - Scott must face the perils of life in the form of Ramona's emotional baggage - the angry exes. Amongst his rivals, Routh is heroic as a rocker with blond tips and extra powers linked with his vegan status, while Schwartzman as the ruthless music manager must bring a knowing smile. Cleverly directed for the younger audience with telephones that spell out 'Ring' and a screen that frequently divides into comic-style panels, Scott Pilgrim is a child of the modern age - but grappling with the same love triangles as his parents did. A winner through the understated talent of Cera.