Ingenious, clever, yet emotionally resonating. Edgar Wright is at the peak of his powers with Scott Pilgrim vs The World.

Rating: 9/10 (9 February 2020)

Edgar Wright's magnum opus. An exceptionally ingenious, yet surprisingly heartfelt film about the struggles of relationships and themes of commitment, change and self-belief. The film delves into an troubled young adult's psyche and puts him in a bizzare world of magic-realism, which fosters Wright's typical blend of visual comedy. It is an exhilarating and awe-inspiring watch that showcases Edgar Wright creativity, humor and deft direction, whose endless improvisations and defiance of conventional filmmaking points to him being the INFP soul that his protagonist is.
The film opts for the usual light-hearted and fast paced approach to tell its story. It is impeccably scripted with great comedic touch, filled with cleverly layered callbacks and foreshadowing. The pop culture references are genuinely hilarious, especially the part concerning veganism, while it also subtly covers broader social themes such as racial inclusion. Still, the film never loses its way in all the visual spectacle and frivolity, and packs an emotional core that is both relatable and meaningful.
It is one of those films with so much clever details in both its visuals and its dialogue that requires rewatches to fully appreciate, a quality I feel shared with many of my favourite films of the 2010s, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel etc. It is one of the highlights of this decade made by one of modern cinemas most unique and talented auteurs.