Easy A

The teen comedy can be a very hit and miss affair. There seems to be more misses than hits. Which is why it is great when a good one comes along.

In the 1980's writer/director John Hughes was the master of making teen comedies. Ever since he stopped making then other film makers have been trying to capture some of his magic. Most fail and other reference him in their films hoping that some of the magic will rub off. While this film does reference John Hughes, it does so in a brilliant way. Being a film about teenagers it will inevitably be about sex. What was so refreshingly different about this film was that despite it being about sex we do not see any or are there any gratuitous scenes will obvious innuendo. There is lots of talk about sex but no actual sex. Instead writer Bert V. Royal uses clever dialogue and intelligent characters to deal with it. And like clever teen comedies before it like 'Clueless' and '10 Things I Hate About You' this film brilliantly references a classic piece of literature to tell its story. It treats the audience with a bit of intelligence. While they don't expect them to have read 'The Scarlet Letter' but instead watch the movie. And they recommend the best version to watch as well.

Finally the brilliantly funny actress Emma Stone is getting a starring role. For years now she has been wonderful in supporting roles but it is nice to see her front and center. And she is more than up to the task. Her comic timing is impeccable and delivers all her great witty lines like a truly gifted comedic actress. She comes across as intelligent without being arrogant. Emma is backed up by a brilliant supporting cast. Amanda Bynes would have taken the starring role in a film like this so it is nice to see her just as good in support. Thomas Hayden Church is also wonderfully subdued in his role as the only person at school on the same level as Olive. The biggest joy, though, is Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci as Emma's parents. They are like an awesome comedy duo with Stanley getting one of the funniest moments I've seen in a film in a while.

This is the break out role for the brilliant Emma Stone. A teen comedy that is not afraid to treat its audience with intelligence and, heaven forbid, assume they have read a book.