What do The Scarlet Letter and a John Hughes style movie have in common? Well, not much, but somehow they blend together to make director, Will Gluck's Easy A, a hilarious teen comedy.
Olive Penderghast (played by the comedic firecracker, Emma Stone) isn’t the first high schooler to fly far below the popularity radar. But in typical teen fashion, a “he said, she said” rumor quickly boosts her name to the top of gossip charts. The story of her climb is told as a live streaming confessional from her web cam.
The Hot Gossip
The lie starts out innocent enough. Instead telling her best friend(Alyson Michalka) she spend the weekend memorizing Natasha Bedingfield lyrics, Olive spins the tail of a hot rendezvous with a college boy. Secrets like these shouldn’t be told in a public place as the school’s goody-two-shoes, played by Amanda Bynes overhears everything and spreads the sexcapade rumor quicker than it started. Olive moves up from freak to floozy by the end of the school day.
Soon a teased gay friend (Dan Byrd) asks for help in vamping up his image, and Olive agrees to faux rock his world. Soon she turns into a one woman business, have faux sex with the geeks of her school in exchange for a plethora of gift cards. Soon Olive’s life resembles that of poor Hester Prynn’s, but with the plot line of an ‘80s teen film.
The Final Verdict
Although the story is predictable, the jokes are fresh and Emma Stone is well cast as the lanky and awkward, Olive. However the two standout performances are from Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as Olive’s parents. Their chemistry and comedic timing are impeccable. Having played husband and wife in Tucci’s film Blind Date, this does not come as a surprise.
Olive and her parents are the only characters that have real depth, while the rest are just portraits of high school stereotypes. Thomas Haden Church plays that one English teacher everyone loves and Penn Badgley is the perfect in every way love interest. Think 16 Candles.
Even with its underdeveloped areas, and constant references to The Scarlet Letter, Easy A is inventive, smart and witty. To have a movie quote Mark Twain, incorporate British slang and use the best aspects of all ‘80s teen comedies, well, that is just a-okay.
The best part? 'Easy A' is currently available for instant viewing on Netflix. What could be easier?
Spencer Neustadt - Young San Franciscan with a love of theatre, food and all things media. Spencer used to want to be Alfred Hitchcock, and is an avid ...
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