In a world where sequels and remakes rule the box office, it is fun to witness something a little different from time to time. Or in the case of Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, something a whole lot different.
Starting out as a real life adventure and ending in the world of video games, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is in a universe all its own. Complete with witty dialogue, stylistic on-screen graphics, and a set of well balanced performances, everything came together nicely for veteran director Wright. That is, until the ending came (or in the case of this film"¦ didn't).
Everything was going great for this unique and cleverly imaged flick, but it just wouldn't end. The official run time comes in under two hours, but with so much going on and the steady onslaught of boyfriends, the film seemed to drag on for hours.
In the film, Scott Pilgrim, in an effort to court the beautiful Ramona, is forced to defeat seven of her evil exes. When I realized that we were just at ex number four, I became painstakingly worried. Chris Evans and Brandon Routh helped get the party started nicely; however, the front loaded approach backfired later on when Jason Schwartzman was unable to rile the audience back in for the pivotal finale. It left me peering from the sidelines, laughing occasionally, but really just hoping for a diversion of some sort.
That diversion came from time to time, most often in the form of Anna Kendrick (as Pilgrim's hilariously witty sister) and Kieran Culkin (as his gay roommate). Their combined work helped keep the story fresh, but ultimately, they too became a wasted commodity. They complimented Cera well, but their jokes were so quick and fierce that few had time to fully comprehend their sarcastic wit before another character or creative scheme of Wright's jumped in to steal away the scene.
The soundtrack was solid (who can complain when you get the "˜Seinfeld' theme song and the title track from Zelda), as was the script; but there is little compensation for a film that outruns its jokes and story. For those dying to see the film, I strongly urge you to do so. You will likely enjoy it. I know I did - well, the first hour and change at least.
