Most high school students would agree the four intimidating years spent inside those cold, cement buildings is hell. Sitting through classes with subjects you can’t focus on, teachers that are out to get you, friends who turn to the dark side, etc. The worst thing about high school, though, like anything else in life, is the gossip. Gossip can make or break the lives of even the most popular cliques and gangs. In “Easy A,” directed by Will Gluck, gossip is in full swing and prepared to embarrass.
Enter the heroine Olive (Emma Stone), your average California high school student whose life changes after she lies to her friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) about losing her virginity to a gay student. The lie quickly spreads throughout the student body, leaving everyone shocked and a bit confused. After helping the gay student fit in by pretending to have sex with him, Olive soon decides to live up to this new image of hers. She purchases sexier clothes and parades around her campus flaunting a big, red A, like in “The Scarlet Letter,” attached to her clothes.
From start to finish, “Easy A” proves to be a clever, catchy movie that’s sure to leave you laughing. The script is well-rounded, with a combination of hilarious jokes throughout the film, as opposed to sporadic one-liners. Another factor that makes this movie a hit is lead actress Stone. She plays Olive with such a strong energy that we want to continue to watch and hear her story. She creatively narrates her side of the story via web cam, jumping back and forth between frames as the plot unfolds.
Each comedic moment is what is called “The Whammie,” to quote Syd Field. Meaning that the big, laugh-out-loud funny jokes are what keep the movie paced. Although the movie continues in a comfortable manner, some of the jokes seem a big over-played, especially scenes portraying Olive and her parents (Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson).
I would give this movie four out of five stars. Between the script, Stone’s acting and the “typical high school” moments, “Easy A” has earned its spot in teen movie history. Most likely favored by students, or people ranging age 16-30, folks of all ages should give this comedic performance a shot. Check out “Easy A” in theatres Sept. 17.

Review by Sean Collado