I really like Michael Cera (as do, no shit, a lot of people). But he unfortunately has had this habit of making some really terrible movies. For every Superbad, there’s three or four Year Ones. And just when you think “Well,  I guess it’s just gonna be crap like this from here on out for him” he’ll exercise some good judgment and do a movie like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And like I said, I really like Michael Cera so if he can slip in a movie like this every few years amongst a bunch of crap, I can deal.

I’ve never read the Scott Pilgrim comics by Bryan Lee O’Malley but having read and liked enough Clowes, Tomine and Blue Monday comics I get the sense that this was probably as faithful as it could have been in recreating that unique mix of comic romance, idealism and malaise. Scott Pilgrim vs The World, directed by Edgar Write (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) isn’t groundbreaking or monumental but it is really clever, cute, funny and most of all the sort of entertaining film that’s become synonymous with Write’s name and style. And in the end, what else could you ask for?

The story is pretty identifiable with and well, very “Emo.” Scott Pilgrim has seemingly spent his life getting his heart broken from one girl to the next, completely oblivious to the hearts he’s shattered along the way. While in one of his “woe is me” rebounds Scott find her, the girl of his dreams (literally) in the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers. He has to have her and will go to whatever lengths it takes to make her his. Those lengths of course include fight and defeating her seven dead exes (read: his and her emotional baggage). Those exes consist of five ex-boyfriends, a set of twins and of course and old lesbian flame… Ramona has a blue or pink bob, so duh! She’s obviously been bi-curious at some point.

Over the course of the film were treated to something that expertly switches from teen romance comedy to action flick without skipping a beat. The action sequences are really fun and well done, playing homage to everything from Street Fighter, Guitar Hero and DDR. And while it may get pretty corny and predictable at times, it does so while being acutely self aware of that fact… which in turn makes the film quite as funny and enjoyable as it is.

Cera has played a variation of the same character since Arrested Development and here is no different except in “that character” is written so perfectly to his abilities and personality. Cera’s alternadude quasi-cool nerd charm will hit all the right notes for those people who see a tiny (or large) bit of themselves in him. This is as close as he’s ever gotten to 80′s era John Cusack, John Hughes level of  both likability, charm and vulnerability.

While Cera is good as Scott Pilgrim, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers is that much better. I can’t speak for girls, but coming from a guys who pined for girls EXACTLY like Ramona, Winstead was so spot on in her portrayal that it was almost painful to watch at times. The too cool for you chic, the little headgames, the witty retorts… she was the complete package with manic panic hair to boot! It was the same painful and enjoyable rush as flipping through your High School yearbook.

And as good as those respective stars of this film are, what makes Scott Pilgrim so much fun are some of the supporting cast. Allison Pill as the drummer and Scott’s ex-highschool flame in his band Sex Bob-omb; Mae Whitman as the evil lesbian ex, Roxy Richter and of course Jason Schwartzman as the ultimate evil ex/record exec Gideon Gordon Graves. They were all great but it’s two in particular who really stole the show for me…

First is, Keiren Culkin in a much welcome return to making movies as Wallace Wells, Scott’s sarcastic gay roomate/bestfriend. Culkin is superb and hopefully this leads to him picking things back up where his career left them (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys and Igby Goes Down) before he decided to go to college. Secondly was Brandon Routh, who most people will probably recognize as Superman from Bryan Singer’s snoozefest Superman Returns. This is now the second time I’ve seen Routh pick up a small supporting role and be great at it (he played Justin Long’s Boyfriend and Elizabeth Bank’s high school crush in Zack & Miri Make a Porno). Routh plays evil ex #3 who is currently the bass player/boyfriend to Scott Pilgrim’s own evil ex in her Paramore-esque band, The Clash at Demonhead (yet another video game reference). Evil ex #3, Todd Ingrim is basically an evil vegan Superman and the ensuing battle between him and Cera is one of the movie’s best and funniest sequences.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the sort of teen movie that works across generations. I can just as easily see thirtysomethings enjoying it as did most of the fifteen year olds in attendance while I watched. It’s the perfect storm of themes that may either be ringing true now, or those you have nostalgic fondness for. There is no specific time for when the film seems to take place, but the style, hair and music is oh soooooo very late 90 which in no small part helped endear it to someone around my age.

I haven’t felt as satisfied by a movie who’s sole intention was to be entertaining since, Zombieland. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is very much in that same vein of action comedy that is cute, smart and ultimately endearing in the same way John Hughes films were. It’s totally worth the $7-$14 (depending on where you live) admission price to see.

- My Pal the Crook