A full-throttle, coming of age, arcade style beat em up...with more than a couple of laughs to boot!

Rating: 8/10 (3 September 2011)

The film is a highly entertaining teen/early twenties kung-fu romance, which sees Brit comedy director Edgar Wright teaming up with American indie sensation Michael Cera in this action packed comedy.
The narrative progresses quickly after introducing Scott (Cera) and his pals, following the story of the young man's (surprisingly eventful) love life. He is soon infatuated with a cool chick, Kim Pine (Allison Phil) and sets out to gain her attention despite already having a high school girlfriend, and granting his up-and-coming band second fiddle to his new love interest.
There is much to be said of Scott Pilgrim's unique visual style and its quirky comic book and computer game references that build into the narrative, and add innovative layers onto the film's Toronto-set, music scene world. These touches certainly grant the film a unique, uber-modern quality. Combined with punchy, plot-progressive editing and a fun, quick-fire script that will remind Edgar Wright fans of his earlier hits (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), Scott Pilgrim skilfully uses both gaming and comic book culture to create a highly watchable, and at times very funny character driven filmic experience.
Cera puts in a fine, Cera-typical performance, doing what he seems to do best, (he will have both the unemployed and geeky kids aspiring to be him globally.) Yet Superbad and Juno fans may be shocked as he launches into action, dealing out spinning kicks and ass-whoopings like he's put in some serious hours preparing for this stumble-upon martial arts skills, fist-swinging-action role. There are other nicely drawn and well scripted characters such as Scott's groupie high-school girlfriend, lovable but none-the-less frightening knives Chau (Ellen Wong), and some particularly memorable "evil ex" boyfriends that Scott finds himself facing off against.
Praise aside, the film does seem overlong. Timing in at just under two hours, any longer and the rolling credits may have warranted a deep sigh of relief. However, for a film that was only ever going to end one way, and which almost exhausts its comic book-like onomatopoeic labellings, the movie is surprising, engaging and ten times more fun than two hours down an arcade bashing the buttons of a beat-em-up video game.