Once upon a time, a comic was happy being a comic. These days however, it’s no longer cool to read comics; instead, you’ve got to have a ‘graphic novel’ in your hands. But no-one is fooling anybody here; a graphic novel is just a term grown-ups have given a comic to make it acceptable to read them again.

Über nerd Edgar Wright, who has helmed such nerd fodder as TV’s Spaced and the big screen’s Shaun of the Dead, knows what makes nerds tick. He clearly owns a nerdic barometer that reads exactly which way the geek winds blow. Who better then to take Bryan Lee O’Malley’s acclaimed series of ‘graphic novels’ and slap its young protagonist onto celluloid with an almighty Ker-rash!?

22-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) may not be currently employed, but he makes up for it by being a full time slacker and band member; he’s the below average bassist for the truly average Sex Bob-omb. Not only that, but he’s dating a high school chick. And life doesn’t get much better than that.

And then he sees Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and everything changes. Even at a distance she appears to be Yoko Ono to his John Lennon. They meet. Bang! He wants to devote the rest of his life to wooing her. And he gets the feeling that she wants to be wooed. Game on.

One tiny snag. And by one, we mean several. To win the girl of his dreams, he must battle and defeat all seven of her evil exes. They come in all shapes and sizes. And they will give their all to crush him. Like a twig. There can be only one winner. Fight!

Since I've said how pretty you are, I think it's time you hugged my penis, don't you?

When it comes to knowing what your audience likes, Wright is one smart, double-choc chipped cookie. He is, after all the zeitgeist of the joystick generation, with this the ultimate love story for the 8-bit generation.

Wright uses a visual shorthand that can only be deciphered by those who have gazed upon the beauty of the plains of Hyrule and gasped out loud; who have shown no fear in taking on the likes of Sub-Zero and Johnny Cage and have lived to tell the tale. Scott Pilgrim Vs the World is a lesson in video gaming and indie rock music alchemy, the likes of which that will never be seen again.

Michael Cera slips into the persona of Pilgrim with the kind of ease and familiarity that Peter Parker does with Spiderman. As he has already proved time and time again, Cera is the poster boy for the geek fraternity. This role by no means stretches his acting abilities; instead, it glamorises the pigeon hole he already finds himself in. But if it’s not broke.

It’s not a complete win win scenario however, as Scott Pilgrim isn’t without an Achilles heel. For all its unique charm and ingenuity, the film is let down by being almost endlessly repetitive. Not only are there far too many exes for Pilgrim to fight, every battle is pretty much identical. Even during a music battle, the film ignores the obvious Guitar Hero battle mode, replete with tracks of notes coming down the screen, which would have served its purpose well; instead it favours the Mortal Kombat style of fighting that is used for every single fight. The first time it’s fresh and original; by the time the seventh ex has come along, you’re about ready to pull out the plug.

Nigel Godrich – famed for twiddling the knobs of Radiohead, Air and Travis, to name but a few – composes a kick-ass score though, with additional tracks by hip young things, and Beck. If nothing else it certainly sounds the business.

And although Wright essentially strums the same note, over and over again, it’s difficult not to succumb to the many charms of Scott Pilgrim. Yes, it’s a top heavy fraction with character almost suffocating a slim story with its bulbous mass; but its quirky cultural references, snappy dialogue and cinematic smorgasbord make it a worthwhile experience.

If you’re a fan of comics – sorry, graphic novels – and know your NES from your elbow, then Scott Pilgrim is definitely your kind of hero.