EASY A REVIEW

Easy A

Young girls definitely need more role models like Emma Stone. Will Gluck's Easy A tells the story of Olive (Stone), a bright high school student who one day decides to tell a little white lie to her BFF Rhiannon (Alyson Michalka) that she lost her virginity. The rumours then spread like wildfire and before she knows it, she's finds herself deeply immersed in the game, yet reaping the benefits in popularity by capitalizing off it however she can. Buzz for the film has been positive after receiving a premiere at TIFF 2010.

Before long, the rumours then spiral out of control as she is forced to embrace her parallels proudly to that of Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter, as the "School Slut". Olive faces the wrath of negative publicity and finds that she is losing her friends and the respect of her peers. Never though does she lose her own self-respect - she is grounded. We are left to wonder whether or not Olivia will be able to overcome this and redeem her name?

Bert V. Royal does a fantastic job with this film's John Hughes-inspired screenplay, giving Stone lots of meaty material to work with and absolutely does she rise to the challenge. This performance places her front and center where she belongs as one of her generation's best actresses. Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson are delightfully funny as Dill and Rosemary, Olive's parents who never lose sight of their trust in her. Gossip Girl's Penn Badgely is nothing short of adorable as a boy of interest only late in the story. And it doesn't hurt that the music is lots of fun here too, with us getting the treat of seeing Stone perform Knock on Wood by Amii Stewart later on.

Sony Screen Gems' Easy A, now in wide release, delivers a generous helping of laughs and charm. Grade: A-