Since then I have watched it on DVD, going through four commentary tracks and one trivia track and an additional screening (so that's seven times I've watched this movie), and have gained a new appreciation for the work that went into this film, much of which goes unnoticed.
The story is based on a graphic novel, a series of books that was unfinished when the writer Brian Lee O'Malley was approached to have it turned into a film. Edgar Wright was chosen to direct and I think he was a pretty good choice as body of work seems attuned to this style of story (action, comedy, fantastical storyline, youth-oriented topics) and still pays attention to the acting, plotting and, most importantly, making it a fun experience for the audience.
Scott, played by Michael Cera, is a 20-something Torontoan who is dating a 17-year old named Knives Chau. His friends in the band Sex Bob-omb rib him about dating someone so much younger. Scott feels a bit superior because of it, and also he is not very emotionally available. In fact, he sees the girl of his dreams, literally, and seeks her out while still dating Knives. The dream girl is Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but she has seven exes he must defeat in video game style before she will give her heart to him. The most noted is the seventh, Gideon (Jason Schwartzman), a music promoter.
At first Scott is bamboozled by these arrangements, then a bit angry to be all involved in it, but he comes to grow up and take responsibility for the emotional hurt he has caused some of the women in his life. The style of film is not such that there are deep emotions in the characters, but enough to form a plot outside the video game graphics and music elements.
At first I thought Michael Cera was once again playing the same sort of dolt he has been playing in recent films--a 20-something who wants a particular girl but doesn't seem very deserving of her--and in essence that is who Scott is. But looking at deleted scenes and alternate takes I can see how Wright and the editors chose the better line readings and performances from Cera and other actors. Cera's performance comes off as more nuanced than I had first assumed.
Listening also to the track by Edgar Wright, he tells you something you don't even notice--the aspect ratio of the film changes! I can't recall when any other film has done this before. You can see on the DVD how this allows for widescreen action shots or push-ins to a tighter aspect for a closeup.
There are many other little touches, such as each of Ramona's "evil exes" is defined by a number (including Scott, a zero), the various t-shirts and posters having inside jokes, and a lot of witty lines and puns. There is also lots of grunge and indie music (provided by Beck and others), many well-choreographed action sequences and fights, and lots of dialogue that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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