When the first volume of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel was published, Universal Studios quickly began to plan a film adaptation. The story of Canadian musician Scott Pilgrim, who meets his dream girl in delivery person Ramona Flowers, only to discover that he must defeat her seven Evil Exes in order to be with her, lent itself well to a cinematic re-telling. It had romance, action, comedy, tension and a raft of interesting characters. It just needed a director with the capability of bringing such a visually challenging project to life.
Enter Edgar Wright – he of the Shaun Of The Dead/Hot Fuzz genius. Co-writing (with Michael Bacall), producing and directing the film, Wright set about assembling the perfect cast, soundtrack, and essentially putting a stunning graphic novel onscreen, in live-action. With Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim – a man the audience needs to root for, even when he’s being less-than-decent – and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers – a woman the audience needs to want to fight for – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had its central, conflicted couple. Add to that, the League of Evil Exes – Satya Bhabha, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Mae Whitman, Shota Saito, Keita Saito and Jason Schwartzman – and Scott Pilgrim struck the right balance between recognisable faces and unknowns.
While the cast is excellent, and the screenplay great, Edgar Wright is the star of this show. Bringing to bear his unique and striking visual style (the roots of which can be found in Spaced – his British Simon Pegg/Jessica Hynes/Nick Frost sitcom from 1999), he succeeds in transferring the stunning artwork of O’Malley’s creation from page to screen, incorporating the elements of video game structure, as Pilgrim wins additional lives and points with the defeat of each Evil Ex.
Though, inexplicably, it never gained momentum in box office receipts at the time of its theatrical release, this award-winning film continues to secure an audience on DVD/Blu-Ray, appreciative of the high artistic quality on display.