'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'

'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (PG-13) (3 1/2 stars)

Writers: Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman, Mae Whitman, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Thomas Jane, Clifton Collins Jr.

"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is one of the most enjoyable and original movies of the summer and of the year. It is one of the most energetic, fun, clever and imaginative movies in years also. The very likable Michael Cera again wins us over as Scott Pilgrim. Scott is a character from a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley and I am in love with O'Malley and the Pilgrim character. One of my mottoes is "Originality produces greatness" and this is a great movie. It is fresh and pretty much like nothing you have ever seen. It is creative, funny, witty, fast, colorful, vibrant and full of touches of brilliance. I love the jokey graphics, the goofy charm, the great cast of young, future stars and the energy that seeps off the screen. Michael Cera is again wonderful as Scott Pilgrim who falls in love at first sight with the fetching Ramona Flowers. This is also at the same time he is dating a high school girl named Knives Chau played with a lot of cuteness and energy by Ellen Wong. To gain the love of Ramona he must fight off her seven evil ex boyfriends. The movie starts with very funny scenes between Cera and Kieran Culkin as his gay roommate. The movie then really kicks in high gear when the exes start showing up. They are played by many wonderful new actors like Mae Whitman, Chris Evans and Jason Schwartzman. The funniest performance and best ex boyfriend is played by Brandon Routh (Superman Begins). This is a surprisingly, brilliant comic performance that almost steals the movie. The cast is surprisingly the best cast of the year so far. It includes great new talent like Aubrey Plaza, Alison Pill, Routh, Culkin, Wong, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Chris Evans and a great old pro like Jason Schwartzman and they are all funny and great here.

This brings me to Michael Cera who this year is being given a Snavely Award for picking the most original movies to be in this year by any actor. This movie and "Youth in Revolt" are risky projects that are more original than most movies ever are. Add to this one of my favorite movies of the past year "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" and "Juno" from 2007 and you have the most impressive resume by any young actor in the last few years. He may play the same type of character a lot but he is always charming, appealing and funny. Also he is always smart and daring in his choices. The heart of this movie needs to be with the love story and I really loved Scott and Ramona being together. That is also due to a very sweet performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free, Die Hard). I also thought Ellen Wong was extremely appealing and funny and her and Cera are also great together. This movie to me never drags, is a lot of fun and had me smiling from the first frame to the last. It doesn't try to impress you by hitting you over the head, it is just a light, fast and very fun time at the movies. This is the best time I have had at a movie since "The Kids Are All Right". With so many movies that are about the same old tired things, that copy from other, better movies and bore me to death with their predictability this is a breath of fresh air. It is a great, true original and a completely charming and major surprise.