"Easy A" gets an A for Awesome! Emma Stone is absolutely terrific!

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2010)

Olive (Emma Stone) is your typical high school outcast. She is smart, sarcastic, and smarter than your average student, which is why she is invisible in high school. One Friday, Olive's best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) asks her to come away for a weekend with her and her parents. Olive respectfully declines because she states she has a date with a college freshman named George over the weekend. This isn't true mind you but just a little white lie because Olive finds Rhiannon's parents a little odd. When Monday rolls around, Rhiannon asks Olive about her date and keeps on asking her if she "did it" over the weekend. This is where the fun begins as Olive decides to tell yet another little white lie that turns her world upside down. Lots of laughs, fun, and 80 movie references ensue...
If John Hughes were still alive today, he would be happy to see someone create a feel good teenage comedy that really lives up to all of his 80s classics. That was my first thought when I walked out of the theater after seeing "Easy A" over this past weekend. The movie, which from the trailer I always wanted to see but was worried about. Teen comedies today are a dime a dozen and most of them are so bland and boring that they are usually forgettable the moment you leave the theater. "Easy A" is truly a breathe of fresh air when it comes to teenage comedies mainly because of its story and even more importantly its cast.
First off, the storyline in this film is fresh and fun. Some will say that this film is loosely based on "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which it can be seen as to be fair. "Easy A" uses "The Scarlet Letter" as a joke within the film because Olive is reading the novel in her class and is apparently acting out the role of Hester Prynne, who is the main character in the novel. Anyway if the story of an outcast faking losing her virginity in order to get noticed isn't funny enough, you take that plot and go a step further, which makes it even funnier. By the middle of the film, Olive has said to have slept with at least half of the school. This, of course, is wildly untrue but at the same time just reminds the audience of how silly and jaded high school really is and was. The story while silly and fun really says a lot about how a lot of people are selfish for their own personal gain and are also more worried about how others view them rather than how they view themselves.
Besides the storyline, the main reason this film works so well is because of Emma Stone, who proves here she has what it takes to hold a film. Emma Stone has always been a favorite of mine but this is the first time she has had a lead role. Stone is probably best known for her role in "Zombieland," which she was good in but in "Easy A" she is just terrific. Stone isn't the typical Hollywood "hottie" because lets be honest she looks like your average girl. That's what makes Emma Stone so right for this role because its believable. Stone comes off as intelligent, sarcastic, and as someone who truly wants to be seen as something else. She is a natural in this role. I personally think Stone is a beautiful woman, not because of her body but because she carries herself with such an attractive personality and doesn't try to force sexiness upon the audience. She is just naturally a beautiful woman. I think in a few years from now, Stone will be looked upon as one of the best actresses in Hollywood. She really has a lot of talent and I can't wait to see her in future projects.
As for the rest of the cast, they are all noteworthy as well. Patrica Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are just hilarious as Olive's parents. The playful yet loving relationship they had with Olive was refreshing and was much different than the completely controlling parents displayed in most teenage comedies. Both Clarkson and Tucci are terrific dramatic actors and it was nice seeing both of these talented actors play a silly and fun role for a change. Amanda Bynes plays Marianne, who is a religious nut job in the film. Her role in this film reminded me a lot of Mandy Moore's role in the film, "Saved!" I felt Bynes did a good job with the role but the entire time I kept wanting to see Mandy Moore play that role. I don't know why I guess when it comes to a crazy religious nut job Mandy Moore's face has been implanted in my brain. Thomas Haden Church is a nice addition to the cast. He plays his normal sarcastic guy role but in this film he actually isn't a douche-bag like he is in most of the other roles he plays. Even Lisa Kudrow, who I haven't seen in a film in years, does a good job with her small role.
In the end, "Easy A" is probably one of the better films of 2010 and that came as a complete surprise to me. Sure its not an Oscar worthy piece of film-making but it's a very funny and enjoyable film from start to finish. This is the second film from director Will Gluck, who really may have some staying power in Hollywood and has really won me over with this film. As I said above, Stone is perfectly cast in the film and holds the film together like a pro. She is the reason to watch the film. Add on the funny and uniquely told story and you have yourself a fun filled little movie that makes you happy as pie when you leave the theater.