Easy A (Gluck, 2010)
May 28th 2011 05:38
Easy A (Gluck, 2010)
Written May 28, 2011
Easy A is one of those cases wherein a trailer completely misrepresents a film’s overall tone. The trailer to Easy A was abrupt, jarring, offensive, and seemed to convey a film that is so antiquated in its social discourse it should have taken place in the 1980’s. With regard to the film as a whole, none of these aspects are present. Instead, Easy A is charming, hilarious, and surprisingly innocent.
Lead by the charismatic Emma Stone (who proves she can easily carry a film) Easy A is a smart, fresh teen comedy that doesn’t lend to melodrama and strays as far from clichés as it can manage. The story is that of Olive Penderghast, a witty, bright student who is refreshingly beautiful yet still a virgin and not all that interested in quickly losing her virginity. She tells a white lie about having a date over the weekend, which quickly morphs into an assumption of sex by her best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka). Pretty soon the entire school has labeled Olive a slut and she rides the lie when her fellow classmates begin to come to her in a plea for their own social acceptance.
Easy A’s concept could have been stilted, mundane, and corny but is saved in the hands of a very clever screenplay and a well-rounded, talented cast. Nearly every single character has an arc, has complexity, rather than merely coming off as archetypes. Olive’s relationship with her parents is lighthearted, brimming with wit, and contains not one ounce of rebellion or ill-will. It’s nice to see such a loving parental portrayal; and the brilliant one liners and give-and-take banter between Stone, Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci doesn’t hurt either.
Olive has a love interest but he isn’t the focal point of this tale. Instead, the script keeps its core on Olive, rather than insinuating a lead female protagonist’s only focus is a man. Further, Olive’s love interest doesn’t succumb to innocuous offense when confronted with her actions; instead, it’s barely a blip on his radar.
It’s the third act when a storyline is introduced which definitely does read as a catalyst simply to get us from point A to point B. When this storyline is introduced, it also contains our first point-of-view shift away from Olive. Perhaps if the character in question were introduced earlier, this awkward, exposition-heavy scene would have felt naturally paced.
Regardless of this ultimately minor quibble, Easy A is immensely entertaining. Emma Stone manages to be simultaneously adorable and sexy; the characters feel organic and the entire feel of the film feels retro, yet in a good way. Easy A is a surprisingly wholesome gem filled with heart, amongst an influx of raunchy teen comedies. Stone is an actress with a unique quality about her and shines here like the star she’s become.
Written May 28, 2011
Easy A is one of those cases wherein a trailer completely misrepresents a film’s overall tone. The trailer to Easy A was abrupt, jarring, offensive, and seemed to convey a film that is so antiquated in its social discourse it should have taken place in the 1980’s. With regard to the film as a whole, none of these aspects are present. Instead, Easy A is charming, hilarious, and surprisingly innocent.
Lead by the charismatic Emma Stone (who proves she can easily carry a film) Easy A is a smart, fresh teen comedy that doesn’t lend to melodrama and strays as far from clichés as it can manage. The story is that of Olive Penderghast, a witty, bright student who is refreshingly beautiful yet still a virgin and not all that interested in quickly losing her virginity. She tells a white lie about having a date over the weekend, which quickly morphs into an assumption of sex by her best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka). Pretty soon the entire school has labeled Olive a slut and she rides the lie when her fellow classmates begin to come to her in a plea for their own social acceptance.
Easy A’s concept could have been stilted, mundane, and corny but is saved in the hands of a very clever screenplay and a well-rounded, talented cast. Nearly every single character has an arc, has complexity, rather than merely coming off as archetypes. Olive’s relationship with her parents is lighthearted, brimming with wit, and contains not one ounce of rebellion or ill-will. It’s nice to see such a loving parental portrayal; and the brilliant one liners and give-and-take banter between Stone, Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci doesn’t hurt either.
Olive has a love interest but he isn’t the focal point of this tale. Instead, the script keeps its core on Olive, rather than insinuating a lead female protagonist’s only focus is a man. Further, Olive’s love interest doesn’t succumb to innocuous offense when confronted with her actions; instead, it’s barely a blip on his radar.
It’s the third act when a storyline is introduced which definitely does read as a catalyst simply to get us from point A to point B. When this storyline is introduced, it also contains our first point-of-view shift away from Olive. Perhaps if the character in question were introduced earlier, this awkward, exposition-heavy scene would have felt naturally paced.
Regardless of this ultimately minor quibble, Easy A is immensely entertaining. Emma Stone manages to be simultaneously adorable and sexy; the characters feel organic and the entire feel of the film feels retro, yet in a good way. Easy A is a surprisingly wholesome gem filled with heart, amongst an influx of raunchy teen comedies. Stone is an actress with a unique quality about her and shines here like the star she’s become.
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