”Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” reviews seem to agree: the hyper-stylized comic book and video game world is a hoot. It’s a world with which veteran video game players – particularly fans of fighters like “Street Fighter” – are well familiar. Those who don’t relate to the augmented reality of “Scott Pilgrim” are typically the exact same critics who had difficulty tolerating the ultra-violent comic book film “Kick Ass”. Critics who support both films tend to favor Scott Pilgrim’s world as a whole, though.
’Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ reviews praise the power combo
A fantastic mash up of popular sources makes “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” a unique experience. Slacker musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is on the make for a lovely lady. He eventually finds it in Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but is faced by a septet of trouble. These trials are Ramona’s “seven evil exes,” who Scott must defeat in kung-fu style before taking the hand of the young lady. It’s a simplistic plot ripped straight from a video game, and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” pays constant tribute to such games, comics, television shows and other pop-culture artifice in a dizzying fusion. It isn’t meant to break new ground in terms of plot. It is a pop culture ride, and we are to ride along.
Review stew
The New York Daily News loves the stylistic blur of the simple Pilgrim’s tale. It is a surreal mix that Film.com rightly tabs and on-the-mark for its intended audience of 20-somethings. Michael Cera channels his trademark nerdiness to fine degree in the film, says the L.A. Times, and its entirely appropriate to the film’s series of influences.
Not the destination, but the journey
”Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” rocks to its own beat. ”It’s the playing that matters,” not who wins the skirmish of exes, says the Los Angeles Times reviewer. On the other hand, there’s the New York Post’s view of the film. Scott Pilgrim’s journey lacks direction and loves itself too much, writes the Post’s reviewer. . ”All games, no joystick” is what the Post has to say; possibly they would have preferred the Scott Pilgrim video game.
Additional reading
Films.com
film.com/features/story/review-scott-pilgrim-takes-us/39953185
Los Angeles Times
latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-scott-pilgrim-20100813,0,4279497.story
New York Daily News
nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/08/13/2010-08-13_scott_pilgrim_vs_the_world_review_music_and_videogame_visuals_take_this_tale_for.html
New York Post
nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/all_games_no_joystick_LiPc4JHjB5HPqyv4vSD4AN
