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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

This movie is a true original.  So, therefore, by the rules of the universe, it had to make 15 cents at the box office.

I’m gonna talk a little bit about box office for a sec.  ”Scott Pilgrim” came in 5th this weekend.  It was beat by “Expendables,” “Eat Pray Love,” and repeats of “The Other Guys” and “Inception.”  It’ll be lucky to make back half its production budget.  It might do well overseas, but maybe not.

Box office is a funny thing.  There isn’t a lot of tolerance for niche in this present market.  There is, but your budget’s gotta be somewhere closer to Earth.  The sad thing is that this movie has the word “Gamble” in its DNA.  Universal bought up the rights to the graphic novel/faux-manga, and they had to have this sort of gamble in mind when they decided to go for it.

Was this before Michael Cera fucked himself out making too many of the same movie?

Everyone I know who didn’t end up seeing the movie this weekend was left cold and aloof by the trailers.

Is this something that is even of immediate concern?  This is assuredly a cult film.  One that I believe will do gangbusters business on DVD, a business that is having shorter and shorter turnaround rates.  It’ll be on shelves before Black Friday.

Do you know that the first Austin Powers made $57 million its first run, followed by the $200 million plus the sequel made?

But since the trailers are apparently not doing much for people, allow me to convince you that this is worth your time:

1) Directed by the genius, genius, genius film savant Edgar Wright, he of “Shaun of the Dead, “Hot Fuzz,” “Spaced,” and the “Don’t” trailer in “Grindhouse”

2) The film is lovingly made.  It has a wonderful heart.  It pumps with life.  This movie lives.

3) Its style owes a great deal to classic NES and SEGA video games.  You’ll know from the first Universal logo that the nostalgia factor is sky high.

4) Comic timing.  Comic timing.  Comic timing.  Nobody has better comic timing than Edgar Wright.  Nobody.

5) Kieran Culkin plays the most relatable gay character yet put to film.  It’s nothing special at first, until you realize just how Earth-shatteringly different it is to see a unique, funny, unconflicted gay character who isn’t a stereotype, but also isn’t a straight guy who fools around with men.  A similar but not as startling feat was achieved in another Michael Cera movie “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” a charming not-terrible movie where Cera palled around with gay guys and it didn’t hurt his straight action.

Please go see this movie.  It is worth your time.  It is worth your money.  And go now, because like I said, low box office is not to be tolerated nowadays, so it’ll probably be yanked from theaters immediately.  This movie is one of a kind, and you are hereafter unable to complain about unoriginality in movies until you have seen this one.

Go now, you filths!