I missed this one when it came to the theater on post, so was very excited about it reaching our little library. Up this week: Easy A.
The standout, though, was Emma Stone as Olive. Because her narrative drives a lot of the movie, it was important to have a strong female lead, and Stone handles it well. She also has a very expressive face, making her range of emotions pretty genuine, and entertaining to watch. I loved watching her play with her singing birthday card; just seemed a very real thing to do. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she chooses to act in in the future.
The writing was great. An actual vocabulary was used (somewhat rare in a teen-based comedy, in my opinion). Yes, there was some swearing in there too (it is PG-13, after all), but there was some intelligence as well.
Yes, it's probably technically a romantic comedy, as the couple does get together at the end, but that wasn't the focus so much as just Olive's adventures and misadventures. So, a mildly romantic comedy, instead of a Romantic Comedy, if that makes sense? Which is good, as the male lead (don't want to say hero, as his role wasn't that big) was pretty generic. Really just there to give some closure at the end of the movie, I think. Still, a relatively minor character being pretty generic and dull isn't as big a downside to a movie when the lead is so entertaining.
Overall: 4 of 5. Very clever comedy, with an interesting heroine. And Emma Stone seems a good up-and-comer to watch. Can definitely see this one on the shelf.
Plot: After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne's in The Scarlet Letter, which she is currently studying in school - until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing (summary courtesy of IMDB).
The acting was good. Thomas Haden Church and Lisa Kudrow are both solid in roles as faculty in Olive's school, both funny and sad as their stories developed. Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci were hysterical as Olive's parents - not too involved, or too stupid-and-insensitive as teen movie parents tend to be. They are intelligent, quirky, and honestly concerned about their kids - you know, real people. The adult characters in general were pretty well rounded for a movie of this sort.
The standout, though, was Emma Stone as Olive. Because her narrative drives a lot of the movie, it was important to have a strong female lead, and Stone handles it well. She also has a very expressive face, making her range of emotions pretty genuine, and entertaining to watch. I loved watching her play with her singing birthday card; just seemed a very real thing to do. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she chooses to act in in the future.
The writing was great. An actual vocabulary was used (somewhat rare in a teen-based comedy, in my opinion). Yes, there was some swearing in there too (it is PG-13, after all), but there was some intelligence as well.
Yes, it's probably technically a romantic comedy, as the couple does get together at the end, but that wasn't the focus so much as just Olive's adventures and misadventures. So, a mildly romantic comedy, instead of a Romantic Comedy, if that makes sense? Which is good, as the male lead (don't want to say hero, as his role wasn't that big) was pretty generic. Really just there to give some closure at the end of the movie, I think. Still, a relatively minor character being pretty generic and dull isn't as big a downside to a movie when the lead is so entertaining.
Overall: 4 of 5. Very clever comedy, with an interesting heroine. And Emma Stone seems a good up-and-comer to watch. Can definitely see this one on the shelf.
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