Olive Branches Out

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2010)

Thanks to Emma Stone's "Olive" Branch, Easy A was extremely easy on the I's. Whoa, OK, never mind. I mean, she made the movie elevate beyond the disaster it could've been.
Fine, I have to get over my Zombieland prejudices. I HATED her in that movie. Well, more her character, than her. She was absolutely wonderful here (in Easy A) and sorting through IMDb shows me more projects I've either seen and loved or want to view, such as Superbad, Paper Man, The Rocker, or The House Bunny.
Now the movie, itself, isn't perfect on its own, butdamnI would personally vote Stone for a Best Actress (Oscar) Nominee. Heck, if Tomei can get the award for My Cousin Vinny or Cusack nominated for In & Out, Stone EARNED the nomination here.
Okay, let's forget Stone for a moment. The supporting cast (Kudrow, why did you have to wait until half the movie's over to show up?), the cinematography and the dialogue were all good here in Easy A, a veryVERYloose adaption of The Scarlet Letterbut let's face it: Stone's witty comments and delivery gave this old concept a fresh perspective.
Olive (Stone – Oh! I get it) is the 'little miss sunshine' of her high school until one lie to her BFF of getting out of a weekend engagement blossoms into her having (GASP!) sex with an older man. Well, far be it from (100% unrealistic) kids who will judge, envy or mock (or all three) Olive. Unrealistic, as in, a LOT of kids have sex in high school. Sorry, Leave it to (their) Beaver parents. It does, in fact, happen.
Anyways, in this fantasy world, no teen has sex, so Olive's immediately branded as a harlot. She does (& doesn't) care so much, until people catch on, like her other BFF, gay guy friend Brandon (Byrd). A lot of people will look down upon his "acting straight" to get through high school as "lying" but let me set the record, uh, straightuntil homophobia goes bye-bye with the back of the bus, it's best to fly under the radar until college. This is coming from experience.
I digressHe gets a laid reputation which is followed by others (enter "fat" stereotypes here) who want the attention until her lie snowballs uncontrollably. Will she do the right thing? Well, time will tell in this John Hughes update. Not coincidentally, the late (and definitely GREAT) Hughes is mentioned here.
As I've shined more than once, Stone is both the centerpiece and also the glue that holds everything together. She alone didn't make 100% the movie – give it up to a great performance from Clarkson and Tucci as the (somewhat) clueless parents – but she really nailed the lines in an unrealistic film (mainly in the out-of-left field never-would-happen finale.)
I've mentioned this is loosely based on The Scarlet Letter film/work, and even though it's mentioned throughout (SEE: her 'Laverne' A on the clothes) it's never actually about adultery. In fact, she never commits (in the fantasy or real world) adultery. In any case, it's worth watching for some quick and fun dialogue – too many very good lines to quote. I'm surprised to like such a film, but again, it's all about the Stone. Look forward to seeing more of you!