Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Review

Summary

• Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a visually arresting series that will instantly hook fans of animation and video games with its epic fight scenes and breakneck energy.
• The returning A-list cast from Scott Pilgrim Vs the World delivers brilliant performances, with Chris Evans partly stealing the show as Lucas Lee.
• The focus is more on the exes this time, and it works. The fight scenes are stylish, diverse, and accompanied by blood-pumping 8-bit music.

Based on the beloved Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a visually stunning animated comedy series featuring the A-list cast from Edgar Wright’s cult classic live-action film, Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. With the show’s numerous video game references, 8-bit music, and “VS” title cards, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off seems specifically crafted for video game fans. Its epic fight scenes are thrilling and well-animated, and the main story, which puts a twist on Edgar Wright’s adaptation, is enthralling. With its effective dry humor, stunning animation, and breakneck energy, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off will instantly hook audiences, pushing them to cane through its eight-episode run in one binge.

This Netflix original animated series gives much complexity to Ramona’s (Mary-Elizabeth Winstead) seven evil exes, allowing audiences to actually care and root for them. They all get satisfying development and unique redemption arcs, and the fact they are all voiced by their live-action performers is an absolute delight — it’s the best voice cast in recent memory. If you love video games, anime, and, of course, Scott Pilgrim, then Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is the show for you.

20-something-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) wakes up one morning screaming about a pink-haired rollerblading girl he keeps having dreams about, claiming she’s the love of his life. After seeing the girl from his dreams at a party, he awkwardly tries to have a conversation with her, constantly bringing up Sonic the Hedgehog. However, after a cringe encounter, Scott manages to secure a date with Ramona, and she invites him back to her place to spend the night. After learning of Ramona’s new ‘fling,’ her league of seven evil exes unite and hatch a plan to kill Scott Pilgrim. Now, Scott must secure his love with Ramona Flowers, while battling a league of evil exes.

The Returning A-List Cast

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Release Date November 17, 2023

Cast Michael Cera, Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Kieran Culkin, Alison Pill, Mae Whitman, Ellen Wong

Main Genre Animation

Rating TV-MA

Seasons 1

Studio Netflix

Easily one of the most exciting aspects going into the show, was the returning cast of Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. The likes of Michael Cera, Mary-Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Pill, Ellen Wong, Mae Whitman, and Jason Schwartzmen all return to their titular roles. Unexpectedly, this incredibly talented cast seamlessly slip back into character. Michael Cera is as brilliant as ever as the awkward 20-something Scott, constantly making us laugh with his dry humor and his character’s inability to understand sarcasm. Likewise, the great Mary-Elizabeth Winstead returns to one of her most underrated characters, Ramona Flowers, the confident and self-assured love-interest.

While Cera and Winstead once again shine in their roles, thanks to the series’ heavy focus on Ramona’s seven evil exes, it’s the so-called villains who steal the show. Brandon Routh, Brie Larson, Jason Schwartzman, and Satya Bhabha are all outstanding as their respective characters, but it’s Chris Evans’ Lucas Lee who will steal audiences’ attention. Evans’ egotistical movie star character was one of the many highlights of Edgar Wright’s film. However, the only criticism was that there wasn’t much of him. Well, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off doubles down on the character, allowing fans to get much more of Chris Evans’ overly-confident pretty boy. While audiences get more of Lucas Lee’s arrogance, Evans’ shines, giving his character the complexity and depth the Edgar Wright movie never allowed, turning this once hateful evil ex into a lovable brute.

Without forgetting great performances from Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Ellen Wong, and Johnny Simmons, the cast for this Netflix original animated series is simply flawless.

Related: Every Villain in Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, Ranked

Stunning Animation and Epic Fight Scenes

Netflix

The show’s animation is constantly arresting. Opting for a cross between anime and an 8-bit video game style, the vibrant colors and vivid details bring the world and its characters to life. The title card splashes, weapon effects roar, and battle sounds feel like they were ripped straight from a ’90s side-scrolling video game.

The show boasts an exceptional array of stylish fight scenes, each feeling uniquely different from the last. Whether it’s Ramona fighting Roxie Richter (Mae Whitman) in a black-and-white movie, or Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha) fighting Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman) anime style at the top of Graves’ tower, none of the show’s fight scenes are the same. The creative choreography, blood-pumping 8-bit music, and the action’s smooth animation make for many fluid and over-the-top animated action scenes.

The majority of the fight scenes do kick ass, but the best fights are ones that are elevated by the show’s visual comedy. A great example is when Lucas Lee take on a swarm of ninja paparazzi. It’s utterly ridiculous, but the fight sequences’ predominantly serious tone makes for a funny contrast and creates lots of thrills. Likewise, in the final fight sequence of the show, each character is given a weapon that best represents their character in order to power them up. Again, keeping in the video game realm, Lucas Lee gets a super skateboard, and Todd Ingram brilliantly gets a piece of broccoli, based solely on the fact that he is, or used to be, a vegan.

Related: The Top 10 Animated Video Game Movie and TV Show Adaptations, Ranked

A Unique Story Packed with Dry, Referential Comedy

Netflix

The very first episode is pretty much a carbon copy of the early moments of Edgar Wright’s film. This may put audiences off the show at first, but by the time audiences reach the exceptional plot twist at the end of the first episode, they will most certainly be all in, and things become unique. Focusing on the seven evil exes offers a ton of compelling dynamics and relationships we haven’t seen in a movie or TV show from the franchise before. Never did we expect to see Todd Ingram become infatuated with Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin), but here we are. The show delves into the exes’ tortured past, and their relationship with Ramona, allowing audiences to fully connect with these once evil antagonists.

The show is a rip-roaring good time. The jokes come fast, and the references are heavy, but where the humor is at its best is from the cast’s dry delivery, just like the Wright film. Alongside its numerous references to Sonic the Hedgehog, Minions, Nintendo, and numerous other video games, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is surprisingly self-referential and meta as well, mainly based on the fact that the majority of the show is centered around a musical based on Scott Pilgrim’s life, offering an alternative reality focused around Edgar Wright’s movie. Fortunately, in this reality, we have Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. It’s wonderful.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off begins streaming on Netflix, November 17th. Check out the trailer below and a link to stream the series.

Watch on Netflix

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