Harbour Highlights: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

“Prepare to feel the wrath of the League of the Evil Exes!”

Welcome to Harbour Highlights, a series of cult and classic films, all handpicked by the Harbour Lights staff.

For November, Ella takes us to 2010 Toronto for Edgar Wright’s genre-mashing favourite Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.

Adapted from the indie comic series, the film fused together slacker comedy, romance, video games and indie music to create a film with its own visual language and tone.

A perfectly-cast Michael Cera plays the title character, a bass player trying to make it big with his band Sex Bob-Omb whose burgeoning relationship with Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is interrupted by her seven Evil Exes – all of whom he must battle in order to win her heart.

A commercial flop at the time, the film has developed a huge cult following, thanks in no small part to Wright’s ability to translate the premise into a film bursting with kinetic energy, taking inspiration from comic books and video games to create something uniquely cinematic.

Bolstered by an impressive ensemble of young stars too numerous to list – including Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman and Kieran Culkin – the film has become a standout in Wright’s work and whose endearing appeal can be seen in this year’s Netflix animated adaptation which brings back the original cast. But it’s hard to believe it’ll beat the original – and it certainly can’t beat seeing something with this much visual energy on the big screen.