Salon.com > Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

“Scott Pilgrim”: The end of the nerd as we know him

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:01:00 +0000

"Hey, skinny ... yer ribs are showing!" That was a bully's taunt in an ad for bodybuilder Charles Atlas' illustrated fitness book, advertised in the back pages of comics for decades. Readers of a certain age will recall how this tale turns out: The bully humiliates his target, a skinny, hapless nerd, and the nerd works out, develops Charles Atlas-style muscles, returns to the beach and lays the bully out with one punch. "Oh, Joe!" the nerd's girlfriend peals. "You are a real man after all!"

As played by Michael Cera, the title character of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” looks like the 98-pound weakling in the Charles Atlas ad. But if those two fictional constructs ran into each other at a party, I doubt Scott would give the Atlas kid the time of day. Adapted by Edgar Wright ("Hot Fuzz") from Bryan Lee O'Malley's comic, the film positions itself as a triumph-of-the-nerd story. Scott, a smart but aimless 22-year old, must win the heart of his dream girl, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), by defeating Ramona's "seven evil exes" in combat scenes that mix elements from video games, martial arts film and music videos.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”: Canadian indie cuteness gone wild!

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:30:00 +0000

If indie-culture cuteness is a transmissible disease, you might want to attend "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" wearing a latex bodysuit. Otherwise you could find yourself wandering the streets after seeing the movie, with your hair changing color every few seconds, early-'90s-style video-game graphics hanging over your head and adorable little words drifting around you in the air, signifying sound effects. SQUISH SQUOSH SQUISH, go your shoes on the pavement. RIIINNNGG! Wait -- did that word float out of your pocket or mine?

This film adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's manga-influenced, teen-oriented series of graphic novels takes place in an odd and charming fantasy world that isn't quite either the present or the past. This can partly be explained by the fact that it's set in Canada. But perhaps not entirely! (Save those pissed-off e-mails, Canadian readers. You know we love you, right? We'll even let you have your own "Real Housewives" series -- if we can have your healthcare system.)

“Scott Pilgrim’s” Facebook blackmail

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:26:00 +0000

This is all Betty White's fault. Just a few months ago, the idea of using social media to give the people what they demand still had an appealingly rough and tumble, grass-roots feel. And when that feisty octogenarian took the stage to host "Saturday Night Live" in May, it looked for a moment like we nerds had a powerful voice. Well, Edgar Wright is here to kill your dreams and crush your revolution, dorks.

Wright already has godlike status among film buffs for directing "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz." To say that his forthcoming Michael Cera movie, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," is already the most slavered-over thing on the Net since Megan Fox's tattoos would be an understatement. So what does Wright do with all that love, all that built-in affection for this new production? Why, he holds it hostage. Late last week, Wright announced via Twitter, "Want to see the brand new SCOTT PILGRIM trailer now? Join us on Facebook! We shall release it at 100k fans! "