This is one of those films where I actually shut it off when I was watching it on Netflix. The following day, I relented and sat through the film. It was very enjoyable, and I remember that when the film was released, a tie-in video game was on consoles for a limited time. When I did the background info on the film, I was surprised that it bombed badly in 2010. It made sense when rewatching the film that it’s very niche. Not your typical comic book film since it embeds itself with video game stuff and quirky humor. SPOILERS will appear in the review.
1. Not your typical comic book film
I watched this film after being exposed to Edgar Wright films. He already made a name for himself when he directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz before releasing Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Most of his filming techniques is everywhere in the film. This is where the term “auteur” comes in. Where motifs like quick edits among other things pop up in a director’s film.
Anyways, the film is based on a comic book. When you sit down and watch it, it’s like a comic book made in three dimensions. A better way to explain it than that is seeing the onomatopoeias pop out in a nondiegetic way. Again, words like “POW” pop up and action lines appear during a fight scene. The first instance of seeing this type of comic book design was in Ang Lee’s Hulk. Although, that film messed up since it had the comic book panel moments litter the film when it’s supposed to be a think piece about the jade giant.
With all that, the film is about Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera meets a new girl Ramona Flowers played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who has to fight her seven evil exes in order to properly date her. Since the world operates like it’s a video game. In the midst of that, he has a band who is trying to get a record deal. In between that happening, Scott already has a girlfriend Knives Chau, played by Ellen Wong who thinks that Ramona is stealing Scott from her. The story has romance written all over it since that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be.
2. Scott Pilgrim is a Conflicting Person
I was turned off when Scott was cheating on Knives for Ramona. I thought about it more and something that I missed when I was focusing on just Scott. He’s so aloof with his actions that he never revels in being an ass. He is actually given an ultimatum from his gay roommate that he has to break up with Knives in order to be with Ramona. Scott is lazy about it and just pursues Ramona.
Aside from that, he meets with his ex-girlfriend Envy. When they talk, there’s a little detail where the camera pans on Scott and we see photos of them together. Envy has a band as well and hates Scott. We can only infer and guess how bad the relationship turned out for the both of them. This part kind of shows just how Envy is as wanting to have revenge on Scott for breaking up with her.
This is probably one of the film’s strongest point is Scott’s character arc. He is having multiple relationships and not having the guts to break it off. Lacking the self-respect he needs to really give him the confidence of just growing up. Another thing I noticed is that after fighting the evil exes, Scott feels like he’s not worth it to Ramona. It would be one thing were the film just be repeating in terms of evil exes, I like the moment where he feels like the whole ordeal is just draining on him.
3. Niche
I might as well slowly work my way on how and why the film bombed. As I mentioned earlier, the film is very niche. Not that you have to read the comic book to understand what’s going on, but really take in the quirky effects that is being presented with the film. Such as when Scott’s band finishes playing, Ramona’s first ex fights Scott. In a way that’s completely unorthodox, he sings like it’s a Bollywood film since he’s Indian. I love it when Anna Kendrick’s character says “What?”. It just sets up the audience’s reaction when seeing that part.
Another example is that the film copies most video game tropes and comic book aspects. It’s engaging since Edgar Wright utilizes his film aesthetics to make the film something to behold in the special effects. I feel that it’s good action, it just doesn’t work when it’s live action. Like the parts that supposed to be gravity defying stuff looks weird when an actual person does it. It just works in animation, as it was perfectly displayed in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Not to diminish the film but, it also contains drawn segments of the comic book when Ramona talks about one of her evil exes.
It’s conflicting since it makes the film slightly inconsistent with what it wants to be. Either be a quirky comic book film, an ode to video games, or an animated film that embraces those aspects of geeky culture. Regardless, Edgar Wright manages to balance the mundane with the film to make it a cult classic. If that was his intention or not.
4. How Did it Bomb?
With all that being said, the film didn’t make enough to turn a profit for Universal. It grossed 30 Million dollars less than its film budget. After doing some digging, it might’ve been just bad advertisement from Universal. Every studio is susceptible to this, since it’s hard to convey to the general public what this film is.
And just by watching it, it may turn off some people who wants to see a comic book film. Mind you, that genre isn’t limited to just superheroes. Another cult classic, Ghost World is about growing up, but is considered one of the best comic book films ever made. Without having a cape or a hero in the marquee. I like Scott Pilgrim since it combines video games with good music. Another thing is that it’s another teen movie with Michael Cera. During it’s release, he had starred in Juno and Superbad, two great teen films, but audiences started to get tired of seeing him in yet another type of him where he’s just quirky.
5. Overall
This is an enjoyable film that is part of the slate of films that are classified as cult classic. For the sum of its parts, it’s a good romantic film with bits of comic book and video game humor. I think it’s only detriment is that it’s not a very accessible film for the general audience. As I say with any movie that breaks the norms, check it out.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World gets a four out of five.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.