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You know that awkward feeling you get when you are in a small group and someone tells an inside joke and everyone starts laughing? You sort of chuckle because they are laughing but you know that they know you have no idea why it is funny. That is sort of the feeling I had at Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. There are elements and references that I just didn’t get. I enjoyed the experience and had fun hanging out with all the people who did get it (most of whom were 23 and under) but to be honest I was sort of confused most of the time. 
 
Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is in a band and has a girlfriend; a pretty average story of teenage love and angst. But in this tale Pilgrim has to battle a league of her evil jilted exes who want to see him dead. He must defeat them all or forever lose the girl of his dreams. And let’s not forget that everyone has video game powers and abilities. That throws in a whole new element. Honestly, trying to describe this film I feel like my grandparents would be describing the new iPhone. It’s fun and cool but I don’t know how it all works. 
 
Visually this movie has everything going for it. The graphics and flashy colors are top notch. The fight sequences are very gamer/comic book in nature so you at times feel like you are watching a video game play out on the big screen. The characters too are very unique and eccentric. These over the top personas give the film a humor and swagger that helps the rest of the elements work. But don’t expect anything new from Cera. He brings the exact same character that we have seen every time before. Granted this time he is fighting and engaging in physical contact but the delivery is exactly the same. It could be Paulie Bleeker vs. the World and you would not question it at all. It is the ensemble that really makes this film sizzle. Kieran Culkin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alison Pill and Ellen Wong all help pick up the slack of the melancholy Michael. 
 
Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references it is safe and probably enjoyable for those 15 and up. This is the perfect chance for your older teens to take full advantage of their Attention Deficit Disorder. It will come in handy with the fast edits, hairpin script turns and all the bright flashy lights. For the adults, well, you might want to take a double dose of your seizure meds before plopping in the seat with your popcorn and soda. I still give it a solid 3.75 out of 5 bass solos. It is a perfect genre geared film and one that I am sure the intended audience will love. 
 
Matt Mungle
 
Review copyright 2010 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.