Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is the movie I’ve been waiting forever for. It’s like the best videogame flick ever made, but it’s based on a series of graphic novels and not a videogame. The movie is brilliantly brought to life by director Edgar Wright. Wright previously made the very funny parody movies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Scott Pilgrim is his best film yet. A hyperactive flick that moves like a bullet and features sharp acting and dialogue and even sharper ADD editing and jump cuts. The effects are also fun and the fight scenes and hipster music totally rock.

Scott Pilgrim (perfectly played by Michael Cera as a knowing combo of a wimpy nice guy and jerk) is a hipster geek living a dull existence in Toronto when he meets the girl of his dreams. Ramona Flowers (she of brightly-colored hair, goggles, and skates, basically an anime vixen come to life) works for amazon (amazon.ca, that is) and Scott falls instantly for her. The only problem is that Ramona has seven evil exes that Scott must defeat so that he can be together with his dream girl.

The smackdowns are funny and full of videogame/anime-inspired split screens, jump cuts and enough martial arts/cartoon mayhem to satisfy Stephen Chow fans. The leads are likable and the supporting cast is terrific. Kieran Culkin steals every scene as Scott’s sardonic gay roommate. What a pleasure to see a gay character in a big-budget film with more than one dimension. Culkin sort of embodies a stereotype then crushes it. The evil exes are well cast too. A hilarious Chris Evans plays a macho skater/action star and his scene is hilarious. Brandon Routh plays a moronic Vegan with telekinesis, and Jason Schwartzman is perfectly cast as a smarmy record executive. Finally, Scott Pilgrim has a beating heart, something all the money and fight scenes can’t hope to buy. Scott Pilgrim is one of the best films of the year so far.

Grade: A-

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