The film “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” was a landmark film for most people our age. It combined video games, graphic novels and movies in a way that had never been attempted before. Years later, the story is still in our collective cultural consciousness, so much so that when someone hears the term “manic pixie dream girl,” Ramona Flowers immediately pops into their head. This lingering effect is why it is so great that they finally created a new version of the story. This time, it’s an animated show titled “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” and it has some very interesting and important key differences from the other versions of the same story.
The Plot
If you don’t know the plot of “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World,” it’s about the nerdy bassist of an indie band falling in love with a mysterious woman named Ramona Flowers. He learns that to be with her he has to go and defeat her “Seven Evil Exes” in combat. Different from the movie, in “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” he actually loses the battle against the first evil ex, Matthew Patel. He appears to be killed, but Ramona refuses to believe that and she decides to investigate and see if he is really dead or if there is something else going on.
The Cast
By far the best choice they made in creating an animated show is getting the original movie cast to return, including Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aubrey Plaza among many others. The cast was one of the best parts of the original movie, especially Cera and Winstead in the two main lead roles. Everyone else did a fantastic job, and none of them seemed to phone it in for the voice acting either. The different direction they are taking the story in is also very refreshing. It is all too often, as I frequently write about, that reboots and retellings of films come out that barely change anything, or feel completely unnecessary. In this case, that is very much not true. The story is different enough to keep it very interesting. Even for the most seasoned fans of the film, it also brings it closer to the original format of the graphic novel, especially considering the creator of the graphic novel also co-created the series.
The world of Scott Pilgrim is perfect for more adaptations and spinoffs in every different medium imaginable, and every time a new one comes out it is incredibly well received. Remember how upset everyone was when the Scott Pilgrim Video Game was delisted on digital stores, the only way to purchase it? Think of Flappy Bird or P.T. I am a huge advocate for the preservation of media, and I was so glad to see that they remastered and brought the game back, including a physical release. I sincerely hope that this animated show gets a physical release as well because I don’t want the threat of losing this show forever looming over anyone who watches it. The show seems to be heading in a very positive direction, and I am excited to continue watching it; and then rewatching the movie and then the show again.
“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” is streaming on Netflix.
