Scott Pilgrim vs the World vs Shark Week

Before I get into my review I have to comment on the surreal program that just came on Discovery Channel: Shark Bites hosted by Craig Ferguson. That is an odd pairing as the shark footage is quite gruesome but Craig is quite funny. This is not right on so many levels.

So last week I got to see an advanced screening of Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Andrew couldn't go as he was working so I was off to the most northern end of Edmonton. It took 30 minutes as there was a lot of construction.

And it was totally worth the trip.

It was note perfect as it tied together the comic genre with video game culture in glorious non-pixelation. I didn't get all the gaming references but it didn't matter as the story was about a boy who loves a girl and everything else was just CGI.

The movie was unapologetically Canadian-set in Toronto as Toronto, with delightful Canadianisms (watch for the CBC t-shirt). The supporting characters were believable and there was a lot of what Andrew would call subtext. The gags, both visual and verbal, were deftly handled by Edgar Wright's wry sense of humour and timing.

Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim is, well, Michael Cera. He is always excellent as a quirky geek. Scott is the opposite of Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who is too cool for anyone but Gideon. Of course they are fated to be together.

Kieran Culkin is hilarious as Scott's gay roommate but not in a stereotypical way. In fact, all the accepted tropes and cliches are messed with: Scott is not just a sad sack (he left his own trail of ex's) and Ramona is neither a femme fatale or bimbo. From the over protective older sister to the jilted ex's, no one is one dimensional or typical.

Nothing about this movie is typical but it is refreshingly upbeat and well crafted. I recommend this movie to all and everyone, except my mom, who doesn't video games.