Once in awhile, a movie comes along that is nothing like what you've seen before.
I think this year, this is that movie.
Let's start with faithfulness to adaptation. Edgar Wright, known to most people as director of "Spaced" and "Shaun of the Dead", has done a fantastic job of bringing a comic book to the screen without losing any of the comic book "quirks"; In fact, this may be one of the MOST faithful CB/M adaptations I have ever seen (and being a geek I make it a point to see most all of them, regardless of quality).
The central concept, if you're not aware, is that young, oddball nice guy Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has recently met the eccentric and slightly aloof Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)--- but in order to date her, must defeat each of her Seven Evil Ex-boyfriends.
One of the coolest things about this film is how effectively we see Scott's video-game-warped brain approach his world. As in the comic book, we see "floating titles" appear for each Chapter of his life and each new character gets introduced. When battling his boss fights, Scott's opponents burst into a pile of coins upon defeat. (think about that. how terrifying is the idea that should you get into an altercation, you can't even get open-casket because you barely fit into a piggy bank??) But it allows the viewer to feel like they're immersed in one big ol' Video Game, and it WORKS. it works really well. The pixel-edging around various objects, the myriad of video-game music and video-game sound effects peppered amongst the casual scenes and the fight scenes, it is all a smooth and seamless integration of what the Nintendo Generation (as I've heard it called elsewhere) has been waiting to see.
I think part of what makes this movie great is that no other film, video-game based, comic-book-based, or otherwise, has been able to make "campy" things like the KAPOW or onamatopeia's seem natural. The obvious citation is the Batman show of the 60s, here, but when one watches Scott Pilgrim, these things DO seem to belong. maybe it's because we also get them outside of the fight scenes and are completely adjusted to them by the time the first fight occurs.
Acting-wise, this film knows exactly what it is and everyone brings their best to the table. Especially the over-campy-attitudes of the Evil Exes, which I feel is entirely necessary to the effectiveness of this movie for what Wright is shooting for, but let's not overlook the fact that Michael Cera is KICKING. ASS. THE. ENTIRE. TIME. I'm willing to bet there was in fact a stunt double now and then, but I am pretty sure based on the execution of those fight scenes that Michael Cera should take time off from his nice guy act if he can escape (or re-adjust the role he's been pidgeonholed into) and do far more stage combat/film combat work. Damn, I was impressed with the volume of fight choreography that guy had to work through.
"Scott Pilgrim" has a heavy ensemble in the comics, and obviously there is no way to cram each and every single character's fullest story into a movie; Sure, some fans will leave feeling something was missing. But despite burning through all six books in time for the film, I was more than content with the necessary cuts and adaptations. While I think the film is not for everyone (I can bet dollars to donuts that some people will not be able to "get" the vibe of this film, unfortunate as that may be), I do firmly believe that Edgar Wright's accomplished what he set out to do and that this film will be around as a favorite as the Age of Geek pushes onward as rabidly as a fanboy at ComicCon.
5 out of 5 one-ups.
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