Easy A

Movie Name: Easy A
Year of Release: 2010
Director: Will Gluck
Starring: Emma Stone, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Amanda Bynes, Cam Gigandet, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd, Malcolm McDowell, Aly Michalka, Fred Armisen, Jameson Moss
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
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Synopsis and Review:

Director Will Gluck followed his feature directorial debut, "Fired Up!" with the film that finally put him on the map, "Easy A", coincidentally also the first produced script from its writer, Bert V. Royal. The film follows the story of Olive, a high school student, who fares fairly well in her academic pursuits, has supportive and relaxed parents, but who for the most part, flies under the radar at school. Everything changes when a little lie about her losing her virginity gets known throughout school, spiraling out of control, and having ramifications she didn't foresee. All of a sudden bullied kids come to her for credibility, and while initially she makes a few bucks as a result, she loses friendships, and eventually ends up being seen as a sort of Hester Prynne, the central character from "The Scarlet Letter", a book she's actually studying and learning about in her English classes.

"Easy A" for all its diverse cast of characters and wonderful cast assembled, is still at its essence a teen film, one that tries to wink at the audience and be a dash smarter than the ones in this category, essentially by referencing other teen films, some classic books, and generally being slightly meta about the whole situation. The main problem with the film is that despite all this apparent snark, the film lacks a distinct point of view on all the topics it tackles, namely female sexuality, sexual diversity and even parental relationships. Whereas Olivia Wilde's "Booksmart" smartly tackled a tighter knitted relationship ecosystem and exposed so much of the habits of teenagers as they veer towards adulthood, "Easy A" borderlines on a sitcom style of depicting relationships, which are for the most part devoid of any sense of anguish. The film is mostly watchable thanks to the wonderful cast that it assembles, with particular highlights going for Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci and Thomas Haden Church. Ultimately it's not a terrible film, but not a very memorable one either.