S6 E4: FlikFix

Today's Podcast: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a cultural classic ahead of its time argues Film Critic Mallory Lawing.

Hosts: Mallory Lawing

Scriptwriter: Mallory Lawing

Podcast Editor & Producer: Luke Judkins

Episode Transcript

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Bear Talk is produced by the GoldenbergGazette Naturallyiet High school student newspaper. Hey
everyone, welcome back to bear Talk. We're back after fall break. I'm

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really excited to be having another installationof my segment Flick Fix, where I
Malory Lowing discuss all things film,from reviews, to news and honestly just
anything related to film. Let's getinto it. I'm really excited about this
week's review because I'll be discussing amovie I've been obsessed with for years.
I'll be honest, I was feelingpretty conflicted about what to cover this week,
but when someone suggested this movie,I knew I wanted to talk about

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it. The film in question hasbeen getting more traction recently because an animated
series including the cast of the twentyten film as the Voice Actors, is
set to come out on November tenth. With the all star cast, and
the cult like following of the filmand the graphic novels have nurtured through the
years, I'm expecting to see tobe very well received. Okay, enough
of that. The film I'm reviewingtoday is Scott Pigrim Versus the World,

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directed by the Edgar Wright. ScottPilgrim Versus the World is a romcom meets
action meets video game type movie basedon Brian Le O'Malley's graphic novels. The
film adaptation casts Michael Sarah as theslacker turned hero main character named You Guessed
It Scott Pogrim. Scott Pogrim isa loser who plays bass in his Toronto
garage band and has a girlfriend afew years too young for him named nice
Chow, while still not being overhis ultra famous ex girlfriend, Envy Adams,

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who also happens to be in aband she dumped him. He salty.
He's also kind of a jerk,not much different from Michael Sarah's typecast.
The plot takes off when Scott's worldis overturned by New York native Romona
Flowers moving into town. She isthe girl of his dreams. I mean
literally, he first met her inhis dreams. It's pretty silly. Her
character is kind of the poster imagefor the manic Pixie dream Goltrope. Ramona

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is a guarded, sarcastic hipster whochanges the color of her hair like every
week, as she states in themovie, after having a dream where she
roller skates by him in the middleof the desert. The film suddenly becomes
Boy meets Girl. Boy tries towin over girl, but that task proves
to be harder than originally planned.In order to date Ramona Scott has to
battle a league of her evil exesthat have a plethora of wonky supernatural powers

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set up by her most evil exof all, Gideon. Scott then embarks
on a visually pleasing, quirky,and wildly original journey to overcome Romona's seven
evil exes. I understand that thefilm won't be for everyone. It's different
and was ahead of its time inmy opinion. When it first came out,
it definitely wasn't many people's Cup ofTea, only grossing forty nine million
on an eighty five million budget,which is shocking considering the cast, director,

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and all the people involved. DirectorEdgar Wright is best known for his
comedies Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz,etc. His fast paced and dramaticized style
was a perfect choice for the cartoonyvibe of the film. He manages to
blend reality and fantasy into a gleefullywacky universe full of wit and character.
The cuts in editing throughout make thefilm blend seamlessly and comedically. The film
does a great job of bringing thegraphic novels to life without completely duplicating them.

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The cast is all so pretty greatMichael Sarah and Kendrick Aubrey Plaza,
Chris Evans, Bree Larsen all perfectfor the roles. The people who worked
in the tech aspect also helped tomake the film what it is. When
I found out that music producer NigelGodrich, who was best known for his
work on Radiohead's record Okay Computer,worked with Beck Hanson to write the songs
in the film, it made sensewhy the soundtrack and the original music from

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Scott's band was so perfect for themovie. The film woon'tn't be the same
without Bill Pope's camera work or MarcusRowland's production design either. The special effects
are unique and effective at betraying thelighthearted and youthful spirit of the film without
getting in the way of the story. This film really could have been another
Michael Sarah mopefest, but to myrelief, it prevailed. I think it
goes without saying that I definitely recommendthis film. It may not be for

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everybody, but I still think it'sworth the watch if you want a good
life. But here's a few announcementsbefore we catch you on the next Seniors.
Mister Hill sent out a video detailinghow to order your graduation announcements and
your cap and gown. The deadlineis October twenty seventh, and you can
click a link in your email fromJostin's for more information. Congratulations to the
Band of Gold forgetting name Grand Championslast week at Seagull High School. The

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MJH Smashpros team are first in theregion after keeping up their undefeated streak this
week. Congratulations to these team members, Aby Lancaster, Carlos Alfilcerez, Nathan
Davis, and Michael Wilson. That'sall we have for you today. Stay
classy and have a very great day. MJ