Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
He who says there's nothing original to watch at the movies anymore has not yet witnessed "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," a film that manages to be unique while 1) basing itself off of a comic book, and 2) employing cliches from no fewer than three separate media.
"Pilgrim" is "Mortal Kombat" meets "The Monkees," if it was remade as a postadolescent live-action anime romantic comedy. In a totally awesome way.
Every frame is packed with a dozen things you've likely never seen before in a film, and doesn't just embrace silliness, it wallows in it like a happy pig wearing an Astro Boy t-shirt and a fedora rolls around in mire.
Scott (Cera) is the bass player for the totally rockin' (and completely humble) band "The Sex Bob-ombs," (and if you don't get that reference...well, you haven't played enough "Super Mario Bros"), which is also comprised of guitarist/lead singer Stephen Stills (Mark Webber), and drummer Kim Pine (Allison Pill).
Scott is also something of a ladies' man as well, at least in the sense that he has a long string of broken hearts behind him, including Kim's.
His latest girlfriend is Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), a high school student who is sheltered from the alt-garage rock scene but is quickly becoming the Sex Bob-ombs' biggest fan.
Then Scott meets Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who changes her hair color every two weeks and has baggage of unknown origin.
Scott wants to date her, but apparently in order to do that he has to wade through her seven evil exes. To list them all here would be a mild spoiler, but suffice it to say comic book fans will recognize both a Superman and a Captain America among them.
And fight they do, "Street Fighter" (or "Tekken" or what have you) style, complete with start screen prompts and sound effect words like "KRACK" and "KAPOW" and other words that don't start with "K."
The fight scenes are better than any involving Michael Cera have any business being, and feature fun effects and creative outcomes. In one scene Scott has to fight band battle style, fighting a synth-rock dragon, other times it's hand-to-hand, other times weapons are employed.
Metaphorically "Pilgrim" is about overcoming his and his girlfriend's baggage, and forming a healthy adult relationship when all of the past couplings have been lackluster and unhealthy. This is explored rather fully in the film, but as if someone were trying to explain it to a 12-year-old. This, too, is a good thing.
To call this Edgar Wright's masterpiece wouldn't be straining by any means (and yes I did see "Shaun of the Dead." It's very good. But this is awesome).
The film is perfectly cast, from Cera, who manages somehow to break away from his mumbly nerd persona without changing a single thing in how he acts, to Kieran Culkin as Scott's gay roomie in their one-bed apartment (yes, one bed apartment).
Aubrey Plaza (TV's "Parks and Recreation") is the midpoint on the continuum from Zooey Deschanel to Tina Fey, and as the Pilgrim-hating barista Julie, she's oh-so-cute and funny to boot, and everyone else is either likable or likably hateable.
It all leads up to a swingin' finale involving ninjas, more video game metaphor ("I'm getting a life," Scott booms at one point, as he snatches a 1up from the air), and a sweet but just-salty-enough romance that will leave teens swinging.
"Pilgrim" is the Xbox generation's "Say Anything," and no I don't think I'm exaggerating, thank you very much.
If it's too early for throwing around "one of the best of the year," I don't care, because it is. And I'll say this: if "Scott Pilgrim" doesn't end up on my 10 best of 2010 list, it'll be one heckuva strong year for movies, because this flick is rockin'.