A Star to Watch

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2010)

Year after year truly outstanding acting goes unheralded because it is not surrounded by dark, moody themes, music or photography, is included in a period piece, or somehow it's part of a costume drama. As if those elements are necessary to recognize quality and confident work, such as the one Emma Stone delivers in this cool and insightful comedy, which honors other classic such as "Say Anything" and "The Breakfast Club" among others. It is presented as just another high school comedy, but it has plenty of bite and is tightly written, embracing, supporting, and presenting its message clearly and without a "quality" package, relying mostly on Emma's sweet and strong performance, as the intelligent young man who misjudges the social forces in her high school world.
Many might think it is an analogy of the present world we live in, as fingers are pointed by a group of self-righteous teens who think everyone who doesn't subscribe to their agenda, and others who tend to "help" but end up causing more trouble than it is needed. As the story develops, we see Olive engage in a series of moves that eventually turn her from a unrecognizable teen to a loose and extremely popular member of her high school, though one with a tarnished reputation.
Small favors turn against her, lies pile up, and soon she must find a way to go back or surmount these obstacles. It becomes a difficult task, but eventually with the support of her quirky family, and a long time admirer, circumstances improve. Be prepared to be entertained and surprise by the sure and strong monologues, the funny exchange of lines, and the way Emma holds her audience captive, yet this doesn't prepare us for the fantastic scene in the gym where she tells the world she is not an average girl.
"Easy A" works in many different level and joins other interesting and representative works of contemporary society, leaving a legacy that takes a bit to be recognized. In past years, works like "I Love You Man" and "The Breakfast Club" were dismissed as silly and light. This year we're surrounded by "serious dramedies" that combine badly written and offensive serious themes with a dose of sex and death to make us think we're witnessing important material. The psych of teens is rarely presented with such clarity, and performances like Stone's should be honored.