Charmingly witty

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2012)

I came across this movie on a best comedies of given year list and was at first very doubtful that a teeny romantic-comedy would be to my liking. But after reading strong reviews here on IMDb, especially from people aged twenty or more who faced the same predicament and recommended it strongly for all ages, I gave it a shot. And I was richly rewarded.
The movie was not the hit-the-theaters once a month romantic comedy, that pretty much warms up the same ingredients every time anew - actually, it was only a comedy with a little romance involved. It was really refreshing to see a character (Olive) not mulling over her faith and passively reach some point of salvation at the end, but actively taking on her problems.
Easy A rest on two pillows - an incredibly good Emma Stone, and the enormously smart and witty dialogs. There hardly is one line of dialog I don't listen to with a little smile on my face. So praise to the writers.
Emma Stone single handedly carries this movie, with her seemingly effortless unburdened acting. This is not to say that the rest of the cast wasn't great, but even if it hadn't been, it would still have made a good movie. But the other good actors here did there work well, and gave Stone the space she needed. I especially enjoyed the family scenes and the interaction with the religious fanatics - also nice to see Fred Armisen have a little role.
The script itself is quite original and develops naturally and evenly paced. Not a single dull moment in there. Some developments might be a bit of a stretch, but it never feels contrived. But the best point about the script is, once again, the dialogs. I wish more screenwriters would appreciate the language as part of the artwork and not only as means of developing a story or the quest for a punchline. The only point that felt awkward was her adopted brother, who someone just hung loosely in there without having anything to say or do really. Guess he was there to portray the family some more and get two funny jokes about him being adopted in there.
This one is really a gem in between your scheme A romantic and stoner comedies.
(By the way, the movie she goes to see in the international cinema actually is Scarlett Letter in German).