Scott Pilgrim is a shiny tinfoil wrapping around a mediocre movie

Rating: 7/10 (6 September 2010)

Well to be honest, Scott Pilgrim is a movie that completely confuses me. That's not to say I didn't get the movie or the story, I just don't understand what its doing or what effect its trying to have.
Scott Pilgrim v. The World is about Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) who is a Canadian punk rocker trying to break out with him band Sex Bob-omb. Shortly after the start of the film, Scott has a dream about Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who then shows up to him in real life. Crushing big time, Scott maneuvers his way to win Ramona's heart, only to realize that he'll have to battle Ramona's seven evil ex's. Insert tons of video game references and implications and you have Scott Pilgrim.
Now as a huge gamer I'd like to say that Scott Pilgrim presents something wholly new to the spectrum of well entertainment in general. Most of the references to video games are the old school retro style platformers, either through music or the existence of life ups and points, but these really only exist as a backdrop to the whole thing. It could be a symbol of the immaturity in Scotts own mind as he battles to win the heart of the princess whom he dreams about, but the movie never directly points this out, or even embraces it. The lack of pointing it out of course doesn't mean that such implications do not exist, and indeed it is a great way of pointing out the simplified way that Scott's mind works, and may point to something in our own society, but again, the lack of direct influence of this way of thinking leads me to think that its nothing more than a shiny coating to what is really a very mediocre romantic comedy.
Now maybe you understand why I'm confused about this movie. I could get more in-depth about this way of thinking, or the symbolism or what a battle against seven evil ex's could mean in the age of today and how it reflects upon a boy who feels he has to prove himself to win the heart of a girl, but I also feel that by pointing this out Scott Pilgrim would simply give me a +10 points for missing out on what the movie was meant to be, mindless celebration of gaming through romantic storytelling.
So to sort of recap, Scott Pilgrim does things visually that make it seem spectacular and actually ties in tongue in cheek reference and examination to make it a major part of the point and the appeal. However, with what we were given in the film any of this ultimately plays out to the tune of a boy who wants to prove himself to a girl. No matter how epic the proportions, no matter how perfectly executed the marriage of gamer humor and reference is I find myself still looking at what ended up what I've said several times, a mediocre romantic comedy that didn't even provide much of a point.
So shoot me in the kneecap but Scott Pilgrim was only slightly better than most romantic comedies. Its probably worth seeing, movie or rental is your choice.