Release: 09.17.10
Rated PG-13
1 hour, 32 minutes
Full Price
Olive (Emma Stone, The House Bunny) is a sassy, whip-smart high schooler who lies to her best friend, Rhiannon (Aly Michalka, TV: Hellcats), about losing her virginity. The school's holy roller, Marianne (Amanda Bynes, She's the Man), overhears and quickly spreads the scandalous news. Having a bad girl rep is much improved to the complete lack of one, so Olive plays along. When good-natured Olive uses her new rep to "aid" less fortunate students, she's labeled skank-superior and each new lie ostracizes her even more from her classmates.
Emma Stone just furthers my belief she'll have a lengthy, successful Hollywood career with every new role. Silly, sexy, sarcastic with a scholastic aptitude far beyond her peers; Stone is wonderful as Olive. At times her performance is overshadowed by the excessively quirky parental performances of Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) and Patricia Clarkson (Lars and the Real Girl) or by Thomas Haden Church's (Smart People) undoubtedly cool teacher role. These are but brief interludes; progressing the story and keeping the audience engaged rests firmly upon Stone's shoulders.
It's apparent director Will Gluck and writer Bert V. Royal are hoping to add their work into the annals of iconic teen comedies. Whether that will happen remains to be seen, but Easy A is a nice homage to John Hughes. The writing is highly entertaining, but there is something overly simplistic about the presentation.
Dirty Undies
Not that Emma Stone isn't captivating, but it is nearly impossible to focus during the first fifteen minutes. That is mainly due to the two stars of TV's Hellcats hogging the spotlight. Have you encountered them?
Michalka's breasts are entirely too distracting! In Easy A they even point out that her tits are how her fellow students know her. Luckily (or sadly, depending on your preference), they step aside once the plot gets going to allow Emma to shine. Despite being about fake rocking people's worlds, Easy A stays relatively chaste. The sauciest thing about Olive is her occasional slip of the tongue.
The Money Shot
Mostly great performances and snappy dialog take Easy A a long ways despite its lack of visual appeal. Be clear, I'm referring to weak direction; its stars are fetching and infectious. Easy A is a bit of a misnomer, Emma Stone works hard to get this film its high marks..
Heard a lot of good things about this one. Thinking we need to check it out before it checks out of theaters. Always nice to get a quality teen comedy these days.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever make it out to see this? It didn't last very long here which is a shame.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Emma was also from Arizona. You been holding out on me?
I did not, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI think she's even from the same city I live in. However, she also about a decade younger than me...and I'm married. So, no. ;)
That makes her about a decade younger than me, too. I'm married, too, but I think my wife would understand if Emma were to proposition me. :-)
ReplyDelete