Wednesday, March 19, 2008

If only I had more time..


So, in case you haven't heard, Michael Cera is in "final negotiations" to play SCOTT PILGRIM.
I guess he’s popular at the moment after a string of two successful movies and one cancelled television show, but this is awful, awful casting.
Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and I’ll be happy to be proven wrong, but I can’t imagine this guy fighting a girl scout, let alone Ramona’s 7 evil ex-boyfriends.
Fuck, I can't even imagine this guy raising his voice!
He's likeable, but not Scott Pilgrim likeable. He doesn't have the charisma to pull off a magical, video game style dance fight. I'm sorry, but he just doesn't.
What's worse is if this does happen then he's going to be who everyone thinks of when they hear the name "Scott Pilgrim". Guh.

20 comments:

Curt Franklin said...

Unless he's got some range beyond slightly awkward, which he's never really demonstrated, I don't think this will be good.

I dunno, Edgar Wright probably knows what he's doing.

Dylan Todd said...

I don't know, I think this could be pretty dang awesome. It sort of fit when I heard it. It'll require of Cera to stretch a little beyond the aforementioned niche he's created for himself, but he's young, relatively hip, relatable and Canadian. All he really needs is to drink roughly 17 Red Bulls before each take, you know, to loosen up a little, and we're good.

Plus, it's Edgar Wright at the helm. Me = sort of excited.

Dylan Todd said...

Oh man, I forgot to add something funny to my comment.

Uh... farts!

chrishaley said...

Dylan - Though I love your sense of humor, your plain old incisive comments are always welcome here as well.

chrishaley said...

Curt & Dylan - I'm inclined to trust that Edgar Wright knows what he's doing, but this just seems a bit too much like a forced Hollywood executive kind of casting choice.

Executive with ponytail (because they all still have those in my mind) - That movie about the fat kid that draws dicks and the awkward kid who are gay for each other made us a lot of money. What else can we put the awkward one in?

Executive lackey - Well, sir, he might--

Executive - Shut up! When I want your opinion I'll piss in your latte and ask you how it tastes. Now, how's that Who's the Boss? movie coming?

M.Sea said...

Who's the Boss movie? Yay!! I heart Alyssa Milano and Judith Light!!! Seriously, man, I don't really see Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, either, and I've only read part of Book 4. I do plan to buy those soon, by the way. Maybe Cera does have range. As an actor, I've tried not to be pigeonholed or typecast. I do trust Edgar Wright, and I REALLY want this to work.

Jason Quinones said...

AWESOME!
now i don't have to read the books and wonder what the hell all the fuss is about!

i remember half heartedly joking about this to you coming to the big screen based on hollywood's current hard on for anything comic book related.

i don't think cera's a terrible choice but then again i don't know the material either. he seems confident enough of an actor to make it beleiveable. and the casting likeness is pretty much down based on the page you posted.

who would you liked to have seen in the role? an unknown mayhaps??

p.s. dylan's farts stink.

chrishaley said...

M. - You definitely need to get on reading volumes 1-3.

chrishaley said...

Jason - 1) Yes you do have to read them. Especially now before the movie comes out.

2) "he seems confident enough of an actor to make it beleiveable."
What have you seen him in that I have not?

3) "the casting likeness is pretty much down based on the page you posted."
I posted that page because I believe just the opposite is true.. which is to say not only do I not feel like that he looks like that, but also because I can't imagine him slamming his hands down on a table and yelling much less jumping over a table and shouting something threatening like that.

4) Justin Chatwin was who Bryan Lee O'Malley said he imagined as Scott some time ago, and I'm inclined to agree with him.
I mean, seriously, can you imagine Michael Cera throwing a serious punch? I sincerely cannot.

Jason Quinones said...

wow!

i imagine you look exactly like that scott pilgrim page right now!

i'm pretty much trusting the judgement of director edgar wright here and am convinced he can pull what he needs out of cera who is a talented actor.

april said...

i'm going to have to play the part of the shallow girl here and say that i just looked up justin chatwin up on imdb and he's simply not cute enough to play scott pilgrim. i'm with you though on the michael cera thing. i'll be impressed if he can keep his voice from cracking, let alone believably beat someone up. i hope they don't turn it into one of those cheesy montage scenes where he very obviously can't fight, but somehow has magical powers that make his enemies fly across the room anytime he throws some sissy-punch.

chrishaley said...

Jason - Haha! Exactly! That's why I should play Scott Pilgrim.
Step 1 : Find Michael Cera.
Step 2 : Beat the shit out of Michael Cera.
Step 3 : Assume his place in movie.

chrishaley said...

April - I'm going to have to play the part of the comfortable with his heterosexuality guy and say that Justin Chatwin is totally cute. So, are you saying Michael Cera is cute enough?

april said...

michael cera is cuter than justin chatwin, but still not cute enough (or cute in the right way) to play scott pilgrim. plus he's a wimp. so yeah. i don't really like either of them for the part was my point.

Curt Franklin said...

Whatever, I would make the best Scott Pilgrim.

Dylan Todd said...

Wait, there's going to be a Who's The Boss movie? Why wasn't I informed of this!

And as far as Michael Cera getting pissed, well, will it please the court to submit exhibit A. Eat it, Jason Biggs.

chrishaley said...

Dylan - I sincerely hope not.

As to the video, that was hilarious.
It also made me realize that Michael Cera has a tiny head.

Adam The Awesome said...

So, I just read the first book (of course, awesome, but I'll tell you more about it later), and I'll be honest that I think Michael Cera is almost a good choice.

At least with the first book, the thing that really gets you is that the fighting comes from nowhere, and Scott doesn't look in anyway intimidating. The place that Mr. Cera suffers is his amount of coolness. Scott is just way too cool. At least, that's my first impression.

Adam The Awesome said...

Okay, so I've changed my mind. Michael Cera really isn't close, but I will say that I have a massive disdain for Justin Chatwin. It's not his pretty boy looks either.

He just strikes me as such a prick which I suppose is in direct correlation with the characters I have seen him play (a la Weeds and The Chumscrubber). All in all, still a better choice the Cera.

The Keeper's Notes said...

I FINALLY picked up my first vol. of Scott Pilgrim today...and just read this post...and my first response to Michael Cera was ...Nooooooo! ...Ugh...double ugh. No F**in Way does he play that character. Scott Pilgrim is cool! (judging from the art on the cover, I haven't read it yet!). Maybe they'll prove us all wrong.