By Easy A was an incredible movie. It stars Emma Stone, the well-documented cinematic love of my life, features an incredible ensemble cast, and some of the wittiest writing the teen movie genre has ever seen. I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the film before it got its wide-release, but sadly Flixist was just a glimmer in the internet’s collective eye at the time. Fortunately, it came out on DVD a few weeks ago, and it was my absolute pleasure to revisit my favorite comedy of 2010. Check out the review after the jump!
Easy A was an incredible movie. It stars Emma Stone, the well-documented cinematic love of my life, features an incredible ensemble cast, and some of the wittiest writing the teen movie genre has ever seen. I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the film before it got its wide-release, but sadly Flixist was just a glimmer in the internet’s collective eye at the time. Fortunately, it came out on DVD a few weeks ago, and it was my absolute pleasure to revisit my favorite comedy of 2010. Check out the review after the jump!{{page_break}}
Easy A has a fairly simple story: a nice, sweet, well-behaved high school nobody, in an effort to help a friend, ends up becoming the school’s biggest whore, except for the fact that everything said about her isn’t true. What starts small quickly snowballs and takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of lies, betrayals, and hilarity. A simple premise to be sure, but in the capable hands of director Will Gluck (Fired Up), we’re treated to one of the smartest comedies of the new millennium.
WhileEasy A might fall into typical teen movie clichés, such as the obligatory end-of-movie-romance and overblown-misunderstanding-to-atone-for, it’s really the execution of the story that sets it apart. Additionally, unlike other teen movies that came out in the past few years (specifically Juno), Easy A has a much easier time making teenage characters sound like teenagers and not like weird alien creatures using a language all but imperceptible to people who live in the real world. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Juno, but for God’s sake Diablo Cody, NOBODY TALKS LIKE THAT! The dialogue is fast, witty, and believable, far and away one of the most charming parts in a very charming movie. It’s rife with self-aware narration, a readily apparent love of the classic teen movies of the 80’s, and pop culture references that aren’t just for pop culture references’ sake. I sincerely enjoyed the fact that my usually spot-on predictions were off on this movie. Far too often do I peg a movie from the get-go or nail a twist by the second act. I can’t really go into detail without giving anything away, but I zigged and the movie zagged. Add several hilarious running jokes and you have one of the best original screenplays of the year.
The movie’s casting perfectly complements the script. As we all know by now, I’m madly in love with Emma Stone, who plays Olive, the film’s main character. I’ve yet to see her in a roll I didn’t like, and casting her in a movie that consists of her making me laugh and dressing like a trollop is destined to endear itself to me. A testament to Stone’s performance is her well-earned Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or a Musical. In addition to Stone, Thomas Hayden Church (All About Steve) practically steals the show as Olive’s favorite teacher, Mr. Griffith. Nearly every line out of his mouth made me laugh, especially when he sees Olive in one of her more risqué ensembles. After staring at her blankly for several seconds, Church states quite simply, “Don’t forget: tomorrow’s Earth Day,” and walks away. Her parents, played by Patricia Clarkson (Shutter Island) and Stanley Tucci (Burlesque), are equally as amusing. They know they’ve raised a good kid and as a result, don’t take any of Olive’s precautionary statements seriously. Instead, they make a series of rapid-fire jokes that provide some of the best dialogue in the movie. Amanda Bynes (in her final role before retiring and then quickly un-retiring) plays Marianne, the antagonistic Christian girl who, through the power of God, tries to destroy Olive. She plays one of those Christians that thinks if God wanted her fourth-year senior boyfriend Micah (Cam Gigandet, Twilight) to finally graduate high school, then He would give him the answers (you know, the worst kind of Christian).
The rest of the ensemble cast includes Alyson Michalka (Phil of the Future) as Olive’s well-endowed best friend Rhi, who is quick to shun Olive after she starts having her fake flings. Rhi’s later developments felt abrupt and her underdeveloped romantic interest, Anson (Jake Sandvig, Fired Up), was only in a couple scenes, resulting in a slightly off-putting, out-of-left-field development towards the end of the movie. Penn Badgley (The Stepfather) plays Woodchuck Todd, Olive’s endearing, clique-less, cool guy romantic interest who also happens to be the school mascot (a woodchuck) and work nights as a beat-boxing waiter at the local Red Lobster rip-off. He’s attractive, cool, and the dresses up in a giant woodchuck costume, what’s not to love? Dan Byrd plays Brandon, the gay friend who sets the main plot into motion, and I was pleased at his lack of FAAAAAAAAAABULOUS that so many homosexual characters seem to come equipped with. Lisa Kudrow (the must-see Paper Man, also starring Emma Stone! ) plays Mrs. Griffith, the school guidance counselor and Mr. Griffith’s wife. One of my only problems with this film is that Mrs. Griffith is introduced so late in the film. She could have, and should have, been introduced much earlier. Regardless, she played an instrumental role in the tail end of the film, and it was a nice twist to cast her as an antagonist. Malcolm McDowell (Halloween), plays Principal Gibbons. McDowell is always a welcome addition to any film, but his character felt just a tad underutilized. Finally, the hilarious Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) makes a small appearance as the cherry on a superbly-cast cake.
In addition to the film’s tremendous writing and acting, other highlights include a wonderful soundtrack (which earns a special mention for expert utilization of the tacky-but-catchy Natasha Bedingfield song Pocket Full of Sunshine), terrific cinematography and some expert editing. The end result is a wholly delightful film that stands apart from a year’s worth of lackluster comedies.
Aside from a couple of minor missteps that keep it, just barely, from 9.00 status, Easy A is not only an excellent film, it is far and away the most refreshing and satisfying teen movie in ages. Brilliant dialogue, whip-smart writing that entertains throughout, and excellent performances by one of the most talented casts in ages left me absolutely spellbound. Gluck’s debut film, Fired Up, was good, but Easy A was tremendous. His upcoming film, Friends With Benefits (not to be confused with the nearly-identically No Strings Attached), comes out in July and will reunite him with Emma Stone and Patricia Clarkson. If it’s half as good as Easy A, we’ll be in for a treat.
8.75 – Spectacular. (Movies that score between 8.50 and 9.00 are some of the best films its genre has ever created, and fans of any genre will thoroughly enjoy them.)
A movie that wears its infatuation with the works of John Hughes and other teen movie staples on its sleeve, Easy A is smart, funny, and endlessly endearing. It performed admirably in theaters, and if co-writer Bert V. Royal has his way, there’s the possibility of two more classic literature-inspired films set in the same high school. Most importantly, Easy A could well be the beginning of a teen-movie Renaissance. We can only be so lucky.
