Easy A

Whatever Happened To John Hughes

[Emma Stone, Aly Michalka, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley]

image from bp.blogspot.com

RANT: Barely 14 hours had past since my last movie outing. Friday at 10pm brought the "Devil" out, while Saturday's 12:30pm was an "Easy A". After writing the last blog and going to bed, there hasn't been that much activity in order to write about. I will tell you that the box office staff at the Westbury, NY AMC Regal Theater, most notably Vanessa, Tiffany, and Mary, are all smiles every time I go to the movies.

SYNOPSIS: After another student hears Olive lie to her friend that she lost her virginity, the rumor mill brands her as a slut and a harlot. At first, Olive relishes her infamy and helps guys get "sex cred", but then the web of deception spins her life too far out of control to handle.

Taylor Swift tweeted that "Easy A" was now her favorite movie! That's quite an endorsement from the multiple music award winner. And I can see why. Defty directed by Will Gluck from a story by writer Bert V. Royal, Emma Stone and cast bring the cattiness and humor that the film needed to be worth while. Where "Mean Girls" was the typical good girl gone bad teenage comedy with hi-jinks and a message, "Easy A" delves as deep into today's teenage culture while adding in a much needed dose of straight-on comedy moments.

Emma's Olive is a blend of "Mean Girls" Cady and "House Bunny's" Shelley. Of course, Emma and Anna Faris did co-star in "House Bunny", so she definitely can channel Anna from firsthand experience. Olive's parents, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, provide all of the well-meaning laughs needed. Amanda Bynes plays Marianne, a teenage Christian soldier bent on exposing Olive for her misdeeds even though Marianne was the one who started the rumor mill after overhearing Olive fibs in the girls's restroom to begin with. "Hellcats" Aly Michalka plays Olive's off-again, on-again best friend Rhiannon, desperate to hear all of the juicy details of Olive's escapades, but unwilling to hold judgement after Olive's notoriety rivals her own.

We learn how destructive even the most innocuous lies can end up. The new age of instant communication and instant gratification is a glaring reminder that privacy is no longer sacred, and that any lie become truth once it appears in print or online. Today's teenagers recklessly add their thoughts to Facebook and Twitter, from the most mundane to the most private. As Olive states during her webcam, today's teenage life is not an 80's John Hughes film.

Worth: Matinee and DVD

I am also trying out a new rating system shown below based on reader reaction to my somewhat complex monetary rating scale. I will give both ratings and see what kind of reaction I muster. A movie can receive up to 5 popcorn buckets. Why popcorn buckets? Because I am a slave to the thousand + calorie delight! Enjoy!