- ARAB NEWS
- 03 May 2024
Since 1975
LONDON: Given the divisive status of 2010’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (which underwhelmed at the box office but went on to become a cult favorite), it was something of a surprise when Netflix announced it was dusting off the source material — Bryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved graphic novels — for an animated series. Even more eyebrows were raised when it was announced that the majority of the live-action movie’s cast would return for the new show — was this a remake? A sequel? Something else entirely?
Well, without giving too much away, the show falls somewhere between all three. “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” tells the story of its titular musician, a slacker who falls for the girl of his dreams, only to learn that dating her means he must defeat all of her evil exes in single combat. Like O’Malley’s original books — and its stylish big-screen predecessor — “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” is drenched in pop-culture references, oblique bouts of reflexivity, and bombastic set pieces.
If possible, the show is even more self-aware than its previous incarnations, but O’Malley and co-creator BenDavid Grabinski manage to stay the right side of pretentiousness — aided by the returning cast, who clearly love the characters of “Scott Pilgrim” as much as their creators. Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman et al have an absolute blast, breathing greater depth and nuance into characters which O’Malley has given new freedom to explore.
This is one of those rare occasions when a reimagining is so much more than just a rebrand. For the first 20 minutes or so, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” feels familiar and predictable. But then (and it’s so important not to spoil the surprise) the show takes an unexpected turn, kickstarting a universe of whip-smart writing, gorgeous animation and unexpected storytelling. It’s smart yet dumb, simple yet complex, silly but heartfelt — and singularly wonderful.
