Cera shines as “Pilgrim”

When directors need an actor to portray an unprepared young man waiting for the world to crush him, they turn to Michael Cera. He is a veteran of portraying such young awkward stuttering men as in films like "Juno," "Superbad" and television's "Arrested Development."

"Scott Pilgrim vs the World" will be known as Cera's best work.

Director Edgar Wright's other directorial efforts include "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz." Here Wright channels the humor of those two films for another round of action comedy. Based on the comic book Scott Pilgrim, the film explores the unpredictable rise of Pilgrim's mushy spine into a much more apparent one.

Twenty-two year old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) falls in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Winstead). Pilgrim's courtship of Flowers is rather succinct. He is thwarted by the arrival of the seven evil exes. Who aren't necessarily evil but self-absorbed and vengeful. Although those character descriptions aren't as verbally appealing as the official name for the group, The League of Evil Exes.

The League challenges Pilgrim to several duels. Pilgrim must fight each of the members to the death in order to remain Flower's lover. Yet, Pilgrim isn't alone in his fight, he has plenty of moral support from his friends.

Kieran Culkin plays Scott Pilgrim's homosexual roommate Wallace Wells. The character's sexual orientation isn't much of a character trait than it is a gag. The film references the character's sexual orientation multiple times during narration and for humor.

Culkin's delivery is impeccable and the character definitely brings life to the film. He plays the character in a subdued way. It's quality acting and surprisingly good coming from a Culkin.

Mirroring Scott Pilgrim's turn from scrawny hero to vicious bad assery is Ellen Wong's Knives Chau. The character starts out very wholesome and sweet, but like Pilgrim, undergoes transformation.

From a naïve girl, to a troubled lover, to finally becoming a mature young woman, Wong delivers. It's a transformation that few supporting actors get to go through.

Rounding out the cast as Scott Pilgrim's band mates are Kim (Alison Pill), Stephen (Mark Webber) and Young Neil (Johnny Simmons). The band's inclusion in the film is irrelevant. They're not necessary to the plot and serve only to give Pilgrim some semblance of a talent other than being nervous.

Everyone wants Pilgrim to realize something about himself he has yet to recognize...his potential. They want him to grow up and overcome his emotional issues. Everyone wants to see Pilgrim confront his morose self-defeating behavior and become a man. To do that he's got to believe in himself and acknowledge his own flaws.