It's been one whole decade since Scott Pilgrim vs The World was unleashed in cinemas. And, it pains us to say, that brings back memories of how this quirky Edgar Wright extravaganza crashed and burned at the box office.
Nevertheless, Scott Pilgrim's meagre takings helped it achieve another lease of life as a modern cult classic. It's adapted from Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novel 'Scott Pilgrim', and stuffs a bewildering amount of pop culture references into every frame. Maybe the movie was just too overwhelming and singular for mainstream appeal at the time?
We can argue that point forever. Nevertheless, the appeal of the film still stands, as Michael Cera's titular character falls head over heels for Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), the girl whose hair colour is as varied as her love life.
Scott realises that he must battle Ramona's seven evil exes in order to win her heart. That means powering up, in a literal and figurative sense, and taking on individuals who are much more powerful than him.
Buoyed by Wright's typically energetic direction and wonderful performances, Scott Pilgrim is only now getting the attention it deserves. The movie also gave a leg up to a host of talented young actors. We've rounded them up in our blog list – how many of these do you remember?
1. Chris Evans
Before he was Captain America, but after he starred as the Human Torch (yeah, let's forget that), Chris Evans added another graphic novel adaptation to his CV. He steals the show in Scott Pilgrim as the absurdly macho Lucas Lee, a prima-donna movie star whom Scott must goad into a deadly skateboarding grind.
Evans is a riot, with his eyebrows arched upwards to Roman aqueduct proportions, and a growly voice that sounds like Christian Bale by way of Clint Eastwood. The fact that Lucas' stunt-doubles are, in fact, Evans' real-life stunt-doubles (speaking with his voice) only makes it funnier. And his entrance, cracking his neck to the tune of Jerry Goldsmith's Universal Studios fanfare, isn't easily forgotten.
2. Aubrey Plaza
Before Parks and Rec was a thing, Aubrey Plaza honed her wonderfully droll comic persona in Scott Pilgrim. She plays Julie Powers, a background character but a social lynchpin with important connections to the rest of the ensemble. Sour and dyspeptic, she attempts to warn Scott about dating Ramona, and can manifest black bars in front of her mouth to bleep out any swear words.
3. Brandon Routh
The ex-Superman is hilarious as super-powered vegan and evil ex Todd, whose cleaning lady analogy is meant to terrify Scott, but instead leaves him utterly confused. Routh gets one of the best lines in the movie: "You know how you only use 10% of your brain? That's because the other 90% is filled with curds and whey."
4. Brie Larson
Yes, Captain Marvel is in the movie. Larson's appearance in Scott Pilgrim pre-dates not just her Oscar win for Room, but also her breakout role in indie drama Short Term 12. She plays Envy Adams, Scott's own ex who has now refashioned herself as a rock and roll star, shacking up with Todd in the process. Scott reasons that his defeating Todd makes amends for the break-up that he never really get over. To celebrate the film's 10th anniversary, Larson shared the following Instagram post.
Larson's audition tape for the movie has also surfaced online.
Wow it’s like you knew an audition storytime video was coming next week😇 https://t.co/Z9yH9EDhzX
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) August 8, 2020
5. Anna Kendrick
In-between the Twilight movies, Anna Kendrick was typically wry in her role as Scott's loyal sister Stacey. Kendrick's own audition tape can be seen at the 6:28 mark in the following video.
6. Bill Hader
Recognise the voice of the film's narrator? It is, in fact, IT: Chapter 2 star and Saturday Night Live fixture Bill Hader. He fills us in on such important details as Scott's hair, and his break-up with Envy.
7. Thomas Jane
The Deep Blue Sea and The Mist favourite makes only a brief appearance, but it's a memorable one. He plays one half of the vegan police who apprehend Todd for violating his own lifestyle. Altogether now: "It's milk and eggs, b***h."
8. Jason Schwartzman
The Wes Anderson favourite plays the equivalent of the final boss in a video game: uber-evil-ex Gideon. The movie builds towards this pivotal final battle, in which Scott joins forces with the lovestruck Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) to free Ramona from the League of the Seven Evil Exes.
9. Kieran Culkin
Macauley Culkin's brother (for it is he) likely gets all the best lines in Scott Pilgrim. He plays the title character's gay best friend Wallace, and throughout the movie he largely stands on the sidelines dropping burns like there's no tomorrow. Our favourite? Upon seeing Lucas Lee, he breathes, "I want to have his adopted babies."
10. Allison Pill
Currently seen in Star Trek TV reboot Picard, Allison Pill plays Kim Pine, drummer for the brilliantly named Sex Bob-omb. She's another of Scott's own exes, and helps motivate him during the final battle against Gideon. Pill's deadpan assortment of sick burns is among the best things in the movie.
Who gives the best performance in Scott Pilgrim vs The World? Let us know @Cineworld. And try to avoid becoming "bifurious".
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