SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD

Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has met the girl of his dreams in cool indie chick Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). However the road to true love is paved with complications, like Scott’s current girlfriend Knives (Ellen Wong), oh and Ramona’s seven exes; all of them evil and all of them wanting to lay the smack down on Scott.

Based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan O’Malley Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (SPVTW) is a quirky romantic comedy cum battle royal which plays out like a big screen arcade game complete with power-ups, extra lives and defeated foes turning to coin.

For reasons that only make sense within the Scott Pilgrim Universe Scott must battle and defeat each of Ramona’s exes before they can be together. Each of the exes had their own special set of powers or abilities to test Scott – the oddest being an Ex who derives his super powers from his veganism. While the exes are fun 7 of them start to take their toll. And as SPVTW devolves into endless fight scene after fight scene it neglects to give us a deeper reason for why Scott is willing to risk his life for Ramona, other than he really likes her; hardly the stuff of epic love.

It’s a shame that SPVTW focuses on the very dull Scott and Ramona because it is filled with quirky well drawn characters, from Ramona’s distinctive exes (including upcoming Captain America Chris Evans and former Superman Brandon Routh) to Scott’s gay roommate Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin). Indeed Culkin is a real scene stealer, his character providing garnering the biggest laughs. SPVTW does try hard to be funny, but like the love story, the laughs fall flat; although tell that to the guy elsewhere in the cinema who laughed. Every. Damn. Time. Someone. Opened. Their. Mouth!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is disappointing because while it is a spectacular visual treat (kudos to director Edgar Wright) the lack of a compelling story leaves it all sparkle and no substance.

2 of 5 Stars