I was really upset when John Hughes passed away a few years ago. His particular brand of smart humor and storytelling style got me through high school knowing that there were dorks like me out there. Easy A is a wonderful homage/tribute to the high school, John Hughes-esque movies I grew up with. In general, modern high school movies know nothing about what high school was really like. The writers are too far removed from the experience (as miserable as it was). The school culture in Easy A is as close to what everyone would remember about the misery of grades 9-12. The cliques, the sheer idiocy, the vicious rumor mill, the fickle friendships...it's all there. The story of one girl's lie(s) gone horribly out of control and making her social life hell, this movie is actually quite good. The jokes were smart and timed well, and it had the feel of a classic John Hughes movie. The filmmakers actually pay tribute to their fallen muse with several well placed scenes stolen directly from Hughes' movies. I can't believe I liked this movie this much.
Emma Stone continues to show that she is going to be an actress to be reckoned with. Her comedic timing is perfect, and plays her character to be absolutely believable. She plays a smart, snarky girl caught up in a situation of her own doing, and does everything she can to correct it. Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson almost steal the show as her liberal parents. The rest of the student body is made up of all the old high school cliches in the book, from religious right crazies to ultra-perky cheerleaders.
I have to admit, Easy A is a light, fun blast from the past. This is how high school relationship movies need to made. Forget the toilet humor of the American Pie type of adolescent humor. Treat your target audience and the material with respect and you come up with a film like this. Well done. 8/10.
See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!
No comments:
Post a Comment