SPECIAL Movie Review #13: Easy A

I know you were expecting the usual frilly review, but I couldn't pass up writing about this for you lovely poofs out there! Enjoy! (Also, Emma Stone doesn't wear Fantasic Dolly is the movie, I'm sorry to say!)

Last night, My boyfriend invited me along with Miss Lumpy and crew to go see an advanced screening of Easy A (2010). Though at first I thought this was going to be your usual sex romp of a teen comedy, nothing inspiring or interesting to say the least. I almost would say it could look like a poor man's attempt at reinventing an entire genre. Well, I wish I could go back and slap myself in the face because dare I say I was truly wrong.

To start off here is the plot. Olive, a very normal girl who is unnoticed by her classmates, lies to her friend about losing her virginity. Suddenly everyone in the school hears the lie and rumors spread. As they begin to curl and take on a life of their own, Olive is recruited by the school's rumored gay kid to pretend to have sex with her for money. Deemed successful, she is asked by other boys to do so in hoping their social status will rise. Olive then becomes the school's new bad girl and takes on an identity similar to the heroine of the Scarlet Letter and sews a red A to all her clothes. It continues to get more juicy from there but no spoilers here!

This little movie is beyond words in terms of it's sheer intelligence. Though I've seen most of the recent teen films, I really never thought anything since Clueless had come to measure and appropriately capture the teenage hierarchy that is high school. Sure, Mean Girls did it's thing. American Pie unfortunately filled it's voids but with only the slight sense of true behavior. But this is the start of a revolution in film. Teen's are written with brains and fantastic dialog.

If you've ever been a fan of John Hugh's timeless teen films then you are in for a huge treat. It's almost as if you could see his ghost taking over the script itself and sprinkling all the pop cultural references and cool music that one loved in his own films.

Also there are other honors to 80's teen flicks, including my favorite Say Anything (Yes ladies, the boom-box is back!)

The script was so good, it even had some jaw dropping twists. I really haven't gotten into a film of this style and gotten so enveloped with the characters probably since I saw Breakfast Club (I was 5, so yeah begin to be shocked.)

It even was written to be real in that it had some decently realistic complications. Some were a bit of a fantasy (But so were many Hugh's films too, especially when it came to Olive's wardrobe) but letting that go aside, it's very realistic in many of the character's reactions and decisions.

I suppose my only problem with the film would be the ending, but I don't want it to be spoiled. Let's just say I would have thought certain characters would have their conclusion better explained and resolved. Otherwise it was as close to perfection as it could get for me.

But I don't think this film would be as great if it wasn't for what is the best ensemble I've seen in a teen movie ever.Emma Stone is by far the best actress of her age I've ever seen. Filling the "Ginger Void" as my boyfriend said, that Lindsay Lohan left behind, comes the closest I've ever seen to someone being a modern Lucille Ball (That lady on I Love Lucy for all you youngin's)She has amazing timing, wit and sex appeal that makes her enjoyed and rooted for by an entire audience. It be because of the none Juno "Forced Down Your Throat" teenage banter or her overall charm, but she was so believable and fun, you could tell how perfect she was to be chosen for the lead.

Other important cast members include Stanely Tucci (Fun Fact: He went to school with my mom and aunts) as her father. Thomas Haden Church as Olive's favorite teacher and Penn Badgely as Olive's romantic interest. The parents especially were my favorite characters in the film, reminding me much of my own parents in their praise of witty speech and movie watching. This includes a memorable quote of when about to watch the Bucket List "Yes! Now everyone we can cross off watching The Bucket List off our own Bucket Lists". I also love the chemistry between Stone and Badgely, it's classic.

Unfortunately it's painfully obvious that this film is not deemed to be successful by the studio's judgements, hence why it was screened for free and why I am writing this now. This film could change women's role in film. Make them more intelligent and likable, and hopefully more movies can be made for young girl's to see like this and have a better role model to look up to. I really encourage you to see this when it comes out on September 17th.

I know it isn't lolita, it doesn't have beautiful visuals, but you really will be glad to see this. It needs all the support and love that it can get. So take you petticoats and run off to the movie theater in September to check this out! You really won't regret it.

LVF UPDATE: I will be at New York Comic Con/New York Anime Fest doing coverage for LVF and for the other blog I work on Twenty Four Lies Per Second. If you are in the New York area please come by to say hello! I possibly might be giving out special prizes at an event going on there as well. There will be lolita related guests there in attendance including h.Naoto designer Gashicon and model Rika of Hangry and Angry. Let me know if you are attending and let's meet up!