The Pitch: Scott Pilgrim is a listless twentysomething who has to battle seven exes for the heart of his new love. The Highs: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a comic book adaptation, a teen romance for young adults, and the best movie about video games ever made (which, admittedly, isn’t saying much.) There are a lot of precious bells and whistles decorating this movie, but it works because it’s a simple “boy meets girl” story full of sincere emotional pangs. The Lows: There are critics and bloggers who mention how Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World can only be appreciated by those under twenty-five. Of course, these grousing old timers haven’t even begun the slippery slide to middle age. But this complaint has more to do with those leveling the criticism rather than the movie itself. Some filmgoers go to movies to have their identity reflected back at them. But most just go to suspend disbelief, and enjoy the emotional ride. For instance, it is possible to enjoy the movie Glory without ever having fought in the Civil War. Still, there are people who will find Scott Pilgrim alienating and demographically befuddling. Final Thoughts: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, most intriguingly, nails what makes video games so much fun. Hollywood has spent almost twenty years trying to communicate on screen what makes video games so compelling, and Scott Pilgrim manages to finally convey the adrenaline rush that accompanies the very minor triumph that comes with defeating a particularly vexing video game level. In the case of this romantic comedy, the rewards that come with besting a challenger in combat is the warm tingle of first love. » Full Review at Premiere.com
