I have never seen a movie quite like "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World." While at first glance it seems like the average teen action/romance/comedy movie that was just made to look pretty and make money, after actually WATCHING it, it really is quite different than expected (at least it was for me).
"Scott Pilgrim vs the World" is based on a graphic novel series. The film is made of the raw stuff of alternative pop culture. Every aspect of the movie is highly stylized to mimic videogames and comic books. What "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" does to set it apart from all of the hollywood "fluff" movies that are nothing besides big booms and special effects (*ahem* transformers), is how it truly does connect to the viewers within its target audience.
The stylized nature of this movie is enough to make it a cult classic. The story seems to take place within two overlapping worlds simultaneously: the dull, boring, but comfortable world of Toronto, Canada (where Scott Pilgrim lives), and the very bright, loud, colorful videogame-inspired world that seems to follow Scott's girlfriend, Ramona Flowers. The electronic style of the film is what makes it difficult to place within a genre. At first I thought it was action, but as I thought about it a bit more, I began to feel like I was watching a musical. This may be a very odd comparison (I thought it was at first), but I couldn't help analyzing the idea. In musicals, at seemingly random parts, characters break into song spontaneously, often times very well choreographed with random strangers in public. An elaborate dance number ensues, and afterwards, everyone goes along as if nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. In the case of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," take the same idea, and replace the elaborate dance numbers with intense, action-and-electronic-effect-packed fight scenes. The same principles of bystanders not noticing anything out of the ordinary still apply, except instead of tap dance duets that they do not notice, it's super crazy flying kung fu moves, floating level bars, an arcade announcer, and superpowers.
The innumerable references to videogames and other aspects of geek culture make this movie something that many will treasure for years to come. There are dozens of "inside jokes" that may confuse some viewers (if you don't get it, you shouldn't be watching this movie). The references to "The Legend of Zelda," vague videogame facts, and hipsters make the target audience of young adults and teenagers feel noticed. The writers clearly knew how to get into the heads of young people and find what they really care about. And to top it all off, the stylized effects and and clever references are all tied together by a brilliant screenplay that is absolutely perfect in its imperfections. The dialogue is exceptionally believable, filled with half sentences, fake words, and nod towards not really caring for grammar in the nicest way possible, which is a key characteristic to the masses of today's youth.
All in all, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is a perfect formula for a cult classic that is sure to relate to any person within its target audience of young, hip people who don't want to be called "hip."
