To be with the girl of his dreams, shy and insecure bass guitarist Scott Pilgrim must defeat her seven evil ex boyfriends!

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2012)

The writer and director of classic television series 'Spaced' and comedy features 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Paul', Edgar Wright, has come a long way before making what is undeniably his first 100% original feature film.
I'm a fickle creature these days when it comes to mainstream film. It worries me when a film gets so much hype in America because so many average films get made out to be the biggest, bestest thing ever and then I regret parting with the remains of my own hard earned minimum-wage funding because I found it contrived, unsurprising and bland. So I usually wait a year or two, waiting for the noise to die down and then I watch it without preconceptions of what it's supposed to be.
'Scott Pilgrim...' is a curious creation. It's more original than anything I've seen come from across the Atlantic in a long time, yet as is typical of Wright, he immerses his vision in modern pop culture and the clichés that come with it, only more so than he's ever done before. The film is chock full of classic references though so it will keep mum and dad happy.
For those that don't know by now, Edgar Wright is English, yet this film is so American, I now understand why so many Edgar Wright fans were dismayed. But then so many more raved about it and I'm more inclined towards the latter since I do love American film when it's original.
'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' is a confident and clever comedy boasting both conventional comedy perfected to a tee and unconventional and original comedy and storytelling. It's a clash of reality and fantasy based in the life of a shy, inexperienced and somewhat insecure bass guitarist only the rules of reality outside of the rules of conventional human drama are changed to that of side-scrolling and beat-em-up video games.
Suburban Toronto, Canada based Scott Pilgrim is a 22 year old seeing a potential psychotic stalker Chinese schoolgirl by the name of Knives Chau, without knowing exactly why, when he happens upon the girl of his dreams. Literally; he meets a girl in real life that he recognises from a dream he had the night before. Infatuated with her to the point of stalking her, the somehow legendary Ramona Flowers agrees to date Scott and they quickly warm to each other but then he finds out why so many of his friends know her name.
Scott Pilgrim is soon forced to fight for Ramona Flowers' honour when one by one, her seven super-powered evil exes challenge him to a duel and only if he defeats them all will he get to keep dating the literal girl of his dreams. The story gradually takes on a concept all too familiar with fans of classic games such as Tekken, Street Fighter, Rock Band and even Super Mario as Pilgrim nears closer to his destiny but the strain of such new-found popularity and infamy by the side of his new girlfriend - especially since he hasn't officially dumped Knives for her - begins to put distance between the couple.
My greatest joy upon watching this film for the first time was its spontaneity and unpredictability. Just as soon as you think you're in the familiar territory of the situational American (I know the film's Canadian-based, just shut up) teen rom-com, you're proved wrong by some absurdly funny moments that get out of control, much to the viewer's by then deliriously tickled delight.
The seven evil exes are a fantastic group of characters, especially the cocky but dim action movie star played by Chris Evans and the spiritually superpowered egotistical vegan bass player played by ex-Superman Brandon Routh.
Not only that but there are some awesome cameo scenes provided by the likes of Thomas Jane and Clifton Gonzales. But the best support character has to be Scott's best/worst friend played by Kieran Culkin (yes, brother of Macauley), whose comedic delivery is just unexpectedly amazing.
Michael Cera is on top form as a lead actor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead just oozes character like so few young actresses, let alone the has-beens that refuse to leave Hollywood. And she still manages to be hot with the most bizarre hairstyle I've ever seen on a woman. How she does it is anyone's guess.
I'm pretty sure that Edgar Wright will remain a comedy-drama writer and director in future but I'll regardless state in confidence that he'll be up there with the likes of Zack Snyder in a few years time if he continues to show the world just how lazy the majority of A-List producers and directors have truly become.