Movie Minute: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

By: Vincent Maraviglia ‘28 – published in Fall 2024 Issue 1

Welcome to the Movie Minute! My name is Vincent, and I will be your go-to guy for anything involving film! I’ve loved watching films ever since I was a kid. I even took filmmaking classes throughout high school, giving me firsthand knowledge in the world of filmography. I am very excited to provide my opinions on movies—old and new—and tell you what’s worth the watch. For this first edition of the Promethean, I’ve decided to look at one of my all time favorite movies: Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

Originally, Scott Pilgrim was a comic series released in 2004 and created by Canadian author and artist Bryan Lee O’Malley. The series follows the titular Scott Pilgrim, a part-time musician in the Toronto-based band “Sex Bob-omb.” One day, Scott encounters a mysterious American delivery girl, Ramona Flowers, and immediately falls in love. In order to date her, Scott must defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes, who are trying to win her back. Upon publication, Scott Pilgrim received widespread success and developed a cult following. The series would go on to be adapted into a film, video game, and Netflix series, but today we will just be looking at the movie.

The film went into production shortly after the release of the first volume, and finished well after the series’ completion. Upon the film’s release in 2010, it was met with limited success. Out of its $60 million budget, it only saw $51.7 million in Box Office revenue. By all accounts, the film had flopped. Looking back at those facts over a decade later, it’s very hard to believe.

The visuals are top-notch in referencing both the style of the comics and retro 16-bit video games. The team behind the visual effects of Scott Pilgrim worked extremely hard and it really paid off. Every scene looks colorful and energetic to a fantastic degree. The film’s setting also works extremely well for the movie. Filmed entirely in Toronto, Scott Pilgrim managed to make every scene look interesting, even when the locations themselves seem mundane.

The film was excellently directed and casted as well. Michael Cera, who played Scott Pilgrim, pulled off the character’s awkward and dorky personality, with every joke being extremely funny and well timed. On the other hand, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who played Ramona Flowers, perfected the mostly monotone and mysterious personality of the character, and her fight scenes are a visual masterpiece. The rest of the cast added to both the humor and the action. Whether it’s Kieran Culkin, who plays Scott’s sarcastic yet comedic roommate Wallace, or Jason Schwartzman, who plays the intimidating yet nerdy main antagonist Gideon, the cast adds to the overall charm the movie holds.

Seeing as the main character is in a band, it makes sense for the film to have strong music. In this area, Scott Pilgrim excels. Created specifically for the movie, Scott Pilgrim’s soundtrack is iconic and unique in taking inspiration from the David Miller era of indie rock. The soundtrack has notable contributors, such as Dan the Automator, David Campbell, Metric, Beck, and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Every song in the film is extremely iconic, especially the film’s most popular song, “Black Sheep.” “Black Sheep” was performed by the in-universe band The Clash at Demonhead and sung by Brie Larson, who played Scott’s ex, “Envy” Adams.

Overall, Scott Pilgrim vs the World is an absolute must-watch for anyone looking for a fast-paced action comedy. This film is easily one of if not my favorite movie of all time. I recognize that Scott Pilgrim won’t be liked by absolutely everyone, but I recommend watching it at least once. The film can be streamed on Netflix, Disney+, and Max if you want to check it out with some friends.