Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Is Real-Life Video Game/ Romantic Comedy By Art Byrd

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  takes boy-meets-girl to a different level. When Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno), sees purple-haired Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free or Die Hard, Death Proof), across the room at a party, he falls hard for her. Ramona is interesting with her take on life. Scott’s world literally changes as he tries to woo Ramona and finds that the outside world has plans for him.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  is a visual experience that some will enjoy and other will think childish. The movie is based on a popular graphic novel. Scott, who is in a band, pursues Ramona. After a rocky start, she begins to like him.

This is where the story takes an interesting twist as people start showing up to fight Scott. Soon he learns that they are the seven evil exes of Ramona -- not necessarily boyfriends, but romantic links. The exes represent different times in Ramona’s love life from elementary school to adulthood. There is one ex, a girl Roxy Richter and played Mae Whitman ( TV’s Parenthood), which gives the movie a quick comedic moment. Scott must battle them all to the death to win Ramona’s heart.

Before Ramona, Scott was dating a high school girl named Knives Chau, played by Ellen Wong. She is very good with her over-the-top crush on Scott, which is both scary and funny.

One of the gems of the film is Wallace, Scott’s roommate, played by Kieran Culkin. His character is very comfortable in his sexuality and offers Scott some level-headed advice.

The movie’s dialogue is hip and snappy, thanks to writer and director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz). Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  feels like a real life video game. The fight scenes are very good; when someone gets punched, the words describing the sounds come on the screen -- like “Pow” and “Wham” from the old Batman TV series.

Anna Kendrick (Twilight, Up In The Air) is great as Stacey Pilgrim, Scott’s sister, who alternates from being very straight-faced to very chatty, which gives her a certain charm. Jason Schwartzman is Gideon, the villain, who treated Ramona badly in the past and wants her back. Scott defends her, which of course sets up a huge fight scene between the two.

Scott Pilgrim vs. World  was a good visual movie experience. So fellows, if you meet girl with multi-colored hair who is cool and the world wants to fight you for her, you should put up your dukes like Scott Pilgrim did.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts