Mr. Hawthorne, Meet Mr. Hughes

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2011)

A film that answers the question: what would you get if you crossed Nathaniel Hawthorne with John Hughes?
"Easy A" is a perky riff on "The Scarlet Letter" done up as a 1980s teeny-bopper movie. Emma Stone is adorable as a nerdy high school girl who gets a reputation for being a slut when a tiny lie goes viral, and then realizes that she kind of likes the attention notoriety wins her, even if it's all based on false rumor.
Though mostly lightweight and funny, "Easy A" does convey some serious messages about the power of words, and it confirms the very real truth that what is true isn't nearly as important as what is perceived to be true (all you kids out there who think you can post whatever you want on Facebook without any consequences, take note).
The adult cast features Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as Stone's impossibly laid back parents (their characters are a total fantasy, but with those two actors playing them, who cares?), Thomas Haden Church as a favorite teacher and Lisa Kudrow as an unhinged guidance counselor who makes a big mistake.
Grade: A-