The film bursts out of the gates with a crisp bite as fresh as celery! The direction and editing hook up with a fine mixture of teenage energy and young-love awkwardness fueling a snippety-snap pace that carries into the third act. Quick cuts punctuate and accent the often times sarcastic tone. But, Michael Cera's innocent eyes stabilize the overall timbre of the production. His naiveté and "every-teen" fumbling make him easily likeable and the perfect boy-in-love/gamer-v-world underdog. You'll also enjoy his somewhat contrasting demeanor in the first ten minutes of the film -- seemingly smug, secure, unconcerned with how the rest of the world perceives him. It's that attitude that clinches audience engagement from the start.

The endearing quality Cera brings to the personality of his character, filmmakers bring to the character of the film. Special effects, word sounds spelled out on screen, and the manipulation of framing give this film the rich feel of both a comic book and a video game. It's a joy to watch. It's a pleasure to root for the underdog. And the film injects its quirky sarcastic comedy not only in the verbiage, but in the timing, in the delivery, in the editing, in the effects, in the satire. It's really the perfect film up until the final act. At which point, sadly, this mighty rolling rubber-band ball of energy takes a bad bounce and begins to unravel. Could it have been the responsibility of climax and resolution that upset the filmmakers' momentum of fun? Could it have been over-thunk? Could it have been re-worked? Could it have been too much action? Perhaps too much energy for two hours? I do think some liberal editing of the ending action and discipline to hold the film to 95 minutes would have helped. Oh, and I'd have suggested a bearing other than "destruction" for Scott's well-earned heart-sword. That could have been the key right there.

In any case, a masterpiece of a film drops its own ball along the homestretch and leaves audiences confused, unfulfilled and a tad bit exhausted. Still, that first three-quarters is well worth seeing!

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --