Dear Geeks: We’re Still Not the Popular Kids
16
August
Dear Geeks,
We need to talk. I just don’t know if I can take it any more. You’re so wrapped in yourselves, it’s like you can’t even hear the deafening silence from everyone else. Yes, I am, of course, talking about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and it’s low box-office bucks. If I have to read one more tweet or blog bemoaning “What is wrong” with our world that The Expendables beat out Scott Pilgrim, I may just have to Hulk out on you guys.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a geek. In fact, I’m a geek in a place where being one is still the kind of thing that gets you stared at out on the street. I live in the Midwest. All my geek buddies are back in California. I am, effectively, isolated from geek culture (except when I wander by the local comic book shop). I’m not saying there aren’t geeks in the Midwest, just that I haven’t been hanging out with them. And this is where my chance to throw a little perspective on things comes in. You listening?
People who aren’t geeks aren’t talking about Scott Pilgrim.
There, I said it. I’m sorry, guys, but it’s true. Where I live, step outside the local geek havens like the comic book shop and mention Scott Pilgrim and you’ll get blank stares. Which is fine (in fact, I prefer it that way): except when you want big numbers opening weekend at the box office.
The success of Scott Pilgrim isn’t going to occur opening weekend, it’s going to occur if we (the geeks) who champion this movie (and the comics) can win people over to come see it that are outside the Geek community. No matter what, geeks will always be the minority, and just because we’ve become less marginalized, doesn’t change that. Scott Pilgrim is not your every-day action flick, so it’s not drawing your every-day action flick movie goers. The testament to its quality (and to the grassroots style movement that is the Scott Pilgrim fan base) will be if geeks of all stripes can convince non-geeks to step outside their comfort zone to go see it, because it is just THAT good. That’s how mostly fan-supported, community specific film explodes onto the everyday movie goers stage.
That said, I encourage you to take a non-geek to see Scott Pilgrim with you. Because it really is that good.
Much Geeky Love,
Dawson
I’m pretty geeky (and a gamer who plays bass) and was looking forward to seeing the movie, but my overall impression was ‘meh’.
Good effects, nice references, well paced – all good.
Character development and comedy? Not so much. I didn’t find Scott to be a likeable character. We didn’t get any back story – and he’s neither the ‘heroic loser’ nor a ‘smart hero’. His hookup with Ramona isn’t believable at all. We didn’t get to find out the extent of his powers or weakness – so it was difficult to root for him in battles (notice how that’s always been an essential plot device – Superman, Batman etc.). And worst of all the film wasn’t funny!
Contrast this with Kick Ass. Just as geeky, very similar in nature – cost half the amount to make and it made double in its first weekend. It was a better movie though – had character development, genuine peril for the lead character (got you rooting for him) and lots of laughs. Kick Ass is a much better movie.
If you look past the theme and effects, Scott Pilgrim just isn’t that good a film. That’s why it’s not ‘crossing over’ into the mainstream.
When I wrote this, I hadn’t seen it yet. I did make some similar points in the blog post right after this one. I feel like the comics appealed not just on the neat effect of overlaying a gaming structure on the background of real life, but also because of the character development. And that got screwed due to the short amount of time available to tell the story.
I thought the movie was fun. And, having point of reference to the back story of the all the characters, I could even connect with them. I’d watch it again, but I can’t imagine someone who had never read the comics would.
Hi there! I hadn’t read your review when I wrote this comic, and now I have.
Really like your review, and it looks like we both pick up on the same points. I’d not read the comics before – so yes, I didn’t have the back story and that really killed the character development for me. I guess it must be difficult for a director who clearly loves the comics to take that step backwards and realise that he’s created a real niche movie.
I hope they make their money back, because there’s plenty in this that pushes the genre forwards. If fans of the comic book like what they see, then at least the movie has served them well.