If you’ve seen the previews for “Easy A,” or the movie itself, you might disagree with my use of the word “whore” in my tagline. However, I can assure you I’m using it correctly. Just because Olive, the main character, isn’t actually having sex with anyone doesn’t mean she’s not a whore. In this case, she is selling her reputation instead of her body. But let’s back up to the beginning.
Olive (Emma Stone) is the idealistic high school kid. She gets excellent grades, doesn’t cause trouble, gets along with most people, and isn’t sexually active. When I say idealistic, I mean a parent’s ideal because what high school kid isn’t at least trying to have sex. Anyway, the film is about Olive trying to clear her reputation through video blog by telling us the story of how she became a whore for a short while. Since the film’s format is a gimmick aimed at drawing the attention of the younger generation, it gives me a great excuse to use a gimmick of my own: the Q&A.
Q: The previews kind of spoil most of the movie, don’t they?
A: Yes. They show you the format, many of the main points, and a lot of the good jokes.
Q: Doesn’t that mean it’s kind of a waste of money to see this film?
A: Based on the track record of Hollywood, that answer would normally be yes. In this case, there’s an angle to the film they don’t tell you about.
Q: I’m on pins and needles. Do tell.
A: Wow. Someone’s grumpy.
Q: Still waiting…
A: Early on, Olive describes how great it would be if her life was a John Hughes movie.
Q: She really is idealistic. So I take it there are a lot of John Hughes references?
A: The film is basically a giant homage to John Hughes.
Q: I think I see where this is going…”Can’t Buy Me Love.”
A: Bingo. Olive has a lot in common with Patrick Dempsey’s character, though her motives are different and she’s receiving money instead of paying money.
Q: So she’s not just doing it for money?
A: No. She’s doing it for an altruistic reason - to help out the little guy. It starts with her telling her friend a lie to get out of camping with her family, the lie being that she has a date. Her friend accuses her of having sex with the guy and is overheard by the school religious nut who tells everyone in school. This new reputation leads the gay guy to asking her to have sex with him so everyone will think he’s straight and stop kicking the crap out him. Rather than actually having sex, they only pretend to have sex at a party while everyone is listening through the door and…
Q: …and he pays her with a gift card to Home Depot or something and then she starts doing this for all of the nerds/dorks/losers who are willing to pay for the same thing. Other than the John Hughes correlation, you still haven’t really told us anything we don’t already know.
A: Hmmm…you already know that she starts wearing slutty clothes with red A’s stitched on to them in an attempt to portray herself as the woman from “The Scarlett Letter.”
Q: Yes…
A: And you already know that the religious nut bag (Amanda Bynes) does everything she can to turn the entire school against her.
Q: You’re stalling…
A: Wow. They really did spoil a lot of this film with the preview.
Q: Did you even like this movie?
A: As a matter of fact I did. Even though you know most of the movie going into it, the characters really make this film.
Q: Now we’re getting somewhere.
A: Emma Stone is the main reason to see this film. She delivers a great performance, giving us some really good dry humor and has great chemistry with the rest of the cast. Bynes hams it up a little, but the hidden gems are Olive’s parents, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson.
Q: Are you sucking up to parents?
A: Not at all. They are the parents every kid wishes they had. They trust her completely, treat her like an adult, and even banter with her. To the viewer’s delight, all of their scenes make you believe that they really love each other. It’s actually pretty refreshing to see a wholesome loving family for a change, rather than the Bundys.
Q: So, the characters are worth seeing. Are there any memorable scenes they don’t show us in the preview?
A: Again, it’s the characters that make the film. Her English teacher, played by Thomas Hayden Church, has some great lines and delivers the same dry humor as Stone and Tucci. Including her mom and a couple of fun scenes with the school counselor (Lisa Kudrow), you won’t be bored.
Q: So, characters, well-delivered dialogue, and John Hughes references. Is there anything else I should know?
A: Yes - don’t mess with the bull or you’ll get the horns.
Rating: It’s a good wholesome movie, regardless of how they get there. Unless you hate John Hughes, don’t ask for any money back.
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