MyRating: YYYYDirector: Will Gluck
Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Aly Michalka, Malcolm McDowell, Dan Byrd
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and some drug material
Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) is not a popular girl at school and a virgin, until the day she lies about losing her virginity to a college guy. Words of mouth quickly spread like wildfire and Olive suddenly becomes popular, and to her surprise, she likes to become the center of attention. When she agrees to help out other unpopular guys at her school by pretending to sleep with them, the lies about her promiscuity are escalating to a level of out of control and her reputation at school is rocketing to the sky. But at the same time, she also starts to receive some jealousies, protests, and harassments by a group of haters.
Doesn't want to pull herself back, Olive begins to wear sexy and provocative clothing, and sewing a red capital "A" to everything she wears, defining herself to have the same fate with the character Hester Prynne in the Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic book "The Scarlet Letter" that she is currently studying at school. The letter "A" represents the act of adultery that she has committed. And by that, Olive officially proclaims that she is the No. 1 'slut' at school.
A funny and smart teen romantic comedy about a girl who becomes the victim of a gossip, but the gossip itself also helps her to become 'somebody' from a 'nobody'. A story about a girl who finds herself enjoying the reputation as being a 'naughty' and 'easy' girl, although in fact she is not. This is an interesting and provocative original story, because the topic about 'virginity' will always become an interesting subject, and the idea about 'a girl to lose her virginity in high school' is something provocative. However, 'a girl who becomes a hot commodity at school' is definitely a wild one. That's why a statement saying that "Men tend to like bitches" might be true. Of course, that statement itself is provocative. But it is a sensual thought. It is all in your mind, whether you like it or not. And what makes it interesting is, because it is provocative.
My point above is the topic that shape the story. A provocative gossip that keep spinning around and around to become a snowball. It is not important anymore whether the gossip is true or not, because people will buy the gossip whatsoever, as their minds will legitimate it to be true. A provocative gossip, especially a sensual related one, is usually too good to be untrue. This issue was smartly captured and written down by the screenwriter into a very enjoyable story. This was not just an ordinary teen romantic movie, the provocative topic and the stand-out story made it different from the others.
Emma Stone is becoming a star and this movie 'made' her, as if this movie was made for her. And she appeared just in the right time, as people still remember her in the successful Zombieland (2009). Maybe this is simply her time to shine. She played her role very well to capture the soul of Olive, a brave, sharp-tongue, and 'I don't care what you think' character. She was also funny and lovable. A perfect role for her.
Other supporting casts also gave good performances, including Amanda Bynes as Olive's nemesis, who appeared spicily adorable, and Aly Michalka as Olive's best friend. Other interesting performances came from Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, as the liberal father and mother of Olive. Stanley Tucci even stole every scene he was in. While Penn Badgley did not shine in his role as Olive's love interest. His character was kind of undeveloped, that made his chemistry with Stone did not really cling. And Lisa Kudrow appeared as 'Phoebe'. She always appeared as 'Phoebe' in whatever movies she was in, that role and image has stuck with her 'forever'.
This is an entertaining and refreshing movie with a memorable performance by Emma Stone. Everyone will remember her with that red capital "A" letter stitching in her sexy dresses. A wild girl, but only in your mind. (MJ)
