A great throwback to the 80's when teen comedies ruled!

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2010)

'EASY A': Four Stars (Out of Five)
Emma Stone (of 'ZOMBIELAND' and 'SUPERBAD' fame) stars in this surprisingly well made teen film that's sort of an homage to the great ones, like those of John Hughes (which the film references several times). It's directed by Will Gluck (an experienced television writer / producer who also directed the awful 'FIRED UP!') and written by first time writer Bert V. Royal. The film co-stars Penn Badgley, Cam Gigandet, Alison Michalka and Amanda Bynes (in what was supposed to be her last role but she changed her mind and un-retired). It also has several older experienced stars in impressive supporting roles like Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow and Malcolm McDowell.
Stone stars as Olive, a good girl who feels almost completely unnoticed at school. That all changes when she's coerced into fibbing to her best friend Rhiannon (Michalka) about losing her virginity to a guy she made up. That's overheard by stuck-up Christian gossip queen Marianne (Bynes) who blabs it all around school. Although despised by many she likes the sudden attention. So when bullied gay classmate Brandon (Dan Byrd) asks her to do him a favor and help spread a false rumor that she slept with him she feels morally obligated to do so (which furthers the rumors about her). More outcasts come to Olive for help and with a little cash incentive as well as pity she keeps helping them. Her life begins to imitate that of the character in the book 'The Scarlet Letter' which she's reading in school and things quickly spiral out of control.
I didn't have any desire to see this movie after seeing the trailer and TV commercials, which sell it as a typical clichéd teen comedy, but after reading so many surprisingly positive reviews and witnessing it's equally impressive box-office earnings I felt compelled to do so (on video last week when it came out, through a dollar rental). I was surprised to learn all the hype is true; it is a surprisingly clever and entertaining teen comedy. The dialog is all witty, especially coming from the parents (Tucci and Clarkson, who play about the coolest parents ever depicted on screen) and Church (who plays one of the coolest teachers). The directing is effective and Stone's transition to leading lady is an impressive one as well (there's already a project re-teaming Stone with Gluck in the works). All of the supporting players are more than adequate, especially Bynes who makes a great bitchy religious nut. The film is funny, inspiring and a great throwback to the 80's (when teen comedies ruled).
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVckRO-OANw