Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | B+

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an action-comedy film based on the acclaimed Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film also draws from classic video games like Street Fighter for visuals and sound effects. Having never read the comic, I can't attest to the faithfulness of the movie to the series, but I can say that, faithful or not, the film deserves as much praise as the graphic novels have received.

The film begins with 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera, Superbad), the bass player in the band Sex Bob-omb, in a relationship with high-schooler Knives Chau (Ellen Wong). However, Scott dumps Knives when he meets Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Sky High). Soon after they begin dating, Scott learns that Ramona's seven evil exes have formed a league to control the future of her love life, and he'll have to fight them all to the death. Included in The League of Evil Exes are a pair of Japanese DJs, a telekinetic vegan and movie star Lucas Lee (Chris Evans, Fantastic Four). Scott must use his incredible martial arts prowess and bass playing skills in order to take them out so that he can be with Ramona.

This movie is hilarious. With plenty of over-the-top fight scenes and a quirky script, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one of the most entertaining movies to have hit theaters this year. Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is not only a great director, but also a great screenwriter — his talent really shines through in this movie. Every scene was filmed expertly and fit the movie perfectly. The visual effects, a blend of retro video game visuals, along with more modern effects, were fantastic. If you've ever wondered what a fight between a giant energy Sasquatch and twin plasma dragons would look like, this is the film for you. Wright's script, co-written with Michael Bacall, contained dozens of amusing quips and one-liners, keeping the film funny from opening to credits.

As for the acting, the supporting characters are the true stars. Though competent as the lead roles, Cera and Winstead didn't bring anything particularly special to the film and lacked chemistry. On the other hand, the supporting actors really made the most of their smaller roles. Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down) is hilarious as Scott's gay roommate and Thomas Jane's (The Punisher) brief cameo is one of the funniest and most memorable parts of the film.

All in all, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a very well-made and entertaining movie. However, this film does have a specific target audience, as there are a lot of references to classic video games that may go over some people's heads. Nonetheless, there is still plenty to enjoy for everyone in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; it is the type of film that could be watched over and over again and still be funny.