Stone and Gluck make it work; this is the year's best comedy and the best teen film since the '80s.

Rating: 6/10 (25 December 2010)

We've all been through high-school before. We've all faced this - angst, fitting in, etc. It becomes too worrying and too much discussed about in today's society that high-school angst has become somewhat of a cliché in modern media, be it books, music, and movies - due to the ever increasing number of teenagers reading/listening/watching these high- school stuff - they can relate to it.
Will Gluck's "Easy A" may very well be a great teen comedy - perhaps the best since John Hughes' teen classics from the '80s (that this film does so proudly pay homage to and reference as well), and with an injection of intelligence to boot. This is a rare comedy that not only makes you care and connect with the characters, it ironically defines the "status quo" and the rumor mill of high school and plays it for genuine laughs, and not just cheap stabs at it.
From a witty and razor-sharp script by Bert V. Royal (that manages to satirize every teen cliché past and present from dating to Facebook), director Will Gluck manages to balance perfect comedy timing, whip-smart dialogue and the actor's charming performances without overusing or overplaying the joke to the extent of gross exaggeration. Here, a little lie by "unknown" Olive that is mis-understandingly heard by other people and thus places her in the rumor mill of her high school, where her lie is spread like wildfire. Rather than trying to get rid of the rumor at first, Olive comes up with a strategy to get herself known to school and then bravely capitalizes and even expands the rumor to become the "harlot" of the school, so to speak. She even refers herself sometime to the main character Hester from the novel "The Scarlet Letter" to which this film is also largely influenced by, but done in a comedic way (the film also takes numerous jabs at the so- called disastrous Demi Moore/Gary Oldman film hilariously).
This is where teenage angst and the whole nine yards comes in and it's pretty true. If you don't have sex, you're a nobody. If you do have sex and you're a female, that automatically qualifies you as "impure", so to speak, by other people of the same age and slightly older. Royal also plays the rumor mill like a toy and he gleefully but not grossly exaggerates the spread of rumors like wildfire. Gluck uses this and with some light and fleet-footed direction he lively brings this the characters and story to a medium that can be enjoyed by anyone over the age of the suitable PG-13 rating, so as long as they're not strictly and overtly Christian, which this film also brilliantly satirizes very well. Yes, it is hilarious and smart, but at times it can become dramatic - and justifiably so - especially at the second half of the movie. You really feel for the character Olive that you wouldn't mind the comedic timing being off a bit. And there are a few clichés, but they are both played straight and cleverly referenced, well-woven together by Gluck that one wouldn't mind seeing there.
Emma Stone is a charming, adorable and talented young actress with perfect comedy timing and here she puts her charm, looks and wit to terrific use. She fits the lead role Olive perfectly like a glove and you are firmly placed at her side and will be rooting for her character. If there is any indication that Stone will become a big name in the future than this film certainly proves it. The other actors are also great thank's to Gluck's direction - Amanda Bynes as the too-super Christian Marianne is terrific and she handles a very satirical part very well. I especially enjoyed Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci's performances as Olive's parents - they are not only 100% supportive of their children, but they are also carefree, extremely like-able AND reasonable, something not too commonly seen in many teen movies. Maybe it's due to their hippie-like personalities. I can't say, I like 'em. Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Cam Gigandet, Aly Michalka and some brief appearances by Malcolm McDowell and Lisa Kudrow round up the solid supporting ensemble, but it is Stone's show here and she picks it up and runs with it all the way to the finish line.
More than a teen movie with heart - Will Gluck's "Easy A" is everything a teen flick should be - fun, sassy and lively. At the same time, "Easy A" accomplishes other feats quite unusual for teen films - it is an intelligent social satire that isn't just on the high school "status quo" and "rumor mill" (lest we forget extreme Christian followers like Marianne), it is both a satire and a tribute to John Hughes and his teen films of the '80s as well as "The Scarlet Letter", and a star- making role from the ever-promising and witty Emma Stone. It is easily the best modern teen comedy (perhaps of the decade?) that I have seen in a while and the best comedy of 2010.
The crew-members and cast may be different and John Hughes may be gone but his spirit and influence is ever-present in this film and he lives on here.
Overall rating: 76/100