Fun, Especially If You Like John Hughes

Rating: 8/10 (6 July 2020)

Easy A is based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter", but is an homage to the teen films of John Hughes. Director Will Gluck even uses clips from some of those films.
Emma Stone plays Olive, the Hester Prynne of Ojai North High School. She is blessed with a script that gives her character intelligence and insight, combined with a mastery of pop culture references. The result is an extremely funny lampoon of various institutions and social conventions.
Though Olive is the victim of social mores and social media, this comedy keeps things light, thanks to the prodigious charm of Ms. Stone. I might have to watch this film repeatedly to pick up all the references to other films and memes.
Among the other great performances is Patricia Clarkson's portrayal of Olive's mother. She lends a quirkiness that feels genuine and is not demeaning to an older generation.
If John Hughes can't grace us with more of his films, this is a welcome addition to the genre.
(This review is approved by Abe Froman. Never had one lesson!)