Easy A, Easily A+

There is a small part of me that groans when I see a preview for an action film, or a comedy and its followed by a PG-13 rating. It is not necessary for a film to be dirty to be funny, but something about going into an R rated film lets you know that anything can happen. In a PG-13 flick it is assumed from the get go that it just wont be as funny, because you know right off the bat that the sky isn't the limit. I had that, and a few other feelings about Easy A. It is a high school sex comedy, usually good for a few laughs, it is driven by a female lead, *groan* chick flick!? And it is rated PG-13, to me all those do not add up to a memorable, roll on the floor, side splitting comedy film. (Do not get me wrong, I enjoy films with female leads, its just an angsty high school sex romp seems to be a genre that is much more male driven.)

Readers, I was wrong. Easy A was one of the funniest films I have seen in probably 5 years. From start to finish I was caught in a belly laugh hurricane and could not escape. There is something special about this film, like a perfect comedic storm. Emma Stone is unflappable, she lets her acting chops shine in this role. She took the part seriously and it shows. Easy A is a lot like the film in which she first gained notoriety, Superbad, but funnier. While the film is anchored by Stone, the teenage cast surrounding her is nothing short of mediocre. The film really knocks it out of the park with the adults, Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson are all wonderful. The adults are underutilized in a smart way. They break from what could have ended up an after school special type,up-its-own-butt comedy, filled with pretentious teenagers equating their problems to the severity of the Cold War, and without the flashes of Tucci and Clarkson at home, and Church at school Easy A would have been nowhere near as good as it was. But, the point is, they WERE there, and they all three are hilarious. I am praying for a Tucci – Church buddy comedy soon.

The themes in Easy A are pure high school. Reputation, gossip, promiscuity, all handled in a very thoughtful way. It shows us an empowered high school girl who has stepped out of the role of victim and has taken control of her own reputation. The film made a great statement about getting what we want, and how sometimes it is not what we think it will be. I was into this film from start to finish, despite the flashbacks to other movies, and the predictable ending. This is one to see, parents take your teen out and then talk to them about the movie. This is a great way to get a message across.

And on another note, now I try not to be too mean on this blog, but I just have to know: WHAT HAPPENED TO AMANDA BYNES!? I mean she is not fat, but her face looks like she is getting Botox everywhere, not just in the right places.This was seriously distracting for me, everytime she was on the screen I turned to PoseySessions and asked “what happened to her face!?”