Early reviews have seen young Mr.Pilgrim underperforming at the box office apprently, and while it’s no fault of the film, it’s unsurprising to see that this simply won’t wash with most casual viewers. Edgar Wright’s sticky fingers are all over this thing, and while it’s a genuine pleasure to see someone having so much fun with the medium, Scott Pilgrim is an experience that will resonate most closely with a very specific demographic -’Spaced’ viewers.
That’s not to say there isn’t something for everyone here mind you. Overall, Scott Pilgrim is a warm and consitantly amusing romantic adventure, but it wears it’s post modern sensibilities tighter than a Shoreditch pirate’s jeans, it’s early 30’s gamer crowd credentials hanging out for all the world to see.
Not that this is nescesarilly a bad thing of course.
If, like me, your teenage years mainly consisted of smoking and playing Streetfighter II in seafront arcades, then you’ll love this movie. Even if you’re a little younger..young enough say..to have watched Power Rangers in a non-ironic fashion, then this is for you as well. If you’re older however, you might struggle to understand why the sight of uberwimp Michael Cira punching Jason Schwartzman’s head off in a glitter explosion is so darn endearing.
As far as plot goes.. well, Scott fancies the (underdrawn, facile, and frankly slightly annoying) Ramona, and must attempt to defeat her seven evil ex’s to win her heart. Why she demands this is never really explored. Presumably it’s because she’s a shallow tit who ‘changes her hair colour weekly’. The fucking hipster twat. Ahem..
Anyway, cue endles kung-fu/8-Bit game inspired fight sequences that look great, there’s a genuine kineticism on display and it says wonders for Wright’s directing prowess that he manages to make such humdrum sequences (band practice in brown living room) become so gloriously cinematic.
The film comes bedecked in swirling graphics and Batman (the 60’s, camp Adam west one, not the Dark Knight) referencing fonts, while the announcements are gloriously bellowed in a Ridge Racer voice that brings back warm memories of the original Playstation.
If there is a problem, it’s one I’ve already mentioned. The whole thing is so ridiculously hipster geeky. The sonic talents of Beck and Metric battle it out, Vegans have psychic abilities (cue a very amusing Tom Jane cameo), and I’m left in no doubt that hundreds of 20-something girls are changing their Facebook profile picture to a headshot of Ramona. Basically, the whole thing looks as though it was vomited up in by Portland, Oregon’s collective hip gland. it’s a little too much at times.
otherwise, this is fast, funny and rather sweet in places, with amusing graphic devices showing character growth (Scott has gained the power of self respect!) and vocal asides (Cool -coins!)as well as managing to convey that difficult “transition between girlfriends” very well indeed.
Oh -and Nega-Scott is a neat trick.
Go see.
