Easy A

Here we have a teen comedy that asks us first of all to believe that Olive, played by Emma Stone, could be nearly invisible in her high school. Okay, now that we have that out of the way, here's the plot:

Olive makes up a date with a college guy and tells her nosey best friend that they did the deed. She only lies because her friend keeps pressing her and won't shut up. The lie is overheard, and in seconds (thanks to texting-aided gossip), the news is all over school. Then a gay guy who's tired of being bullied asks Olive to say they, too, did the nasty. She reluctantly agrees, and soon they're in a bedroom at a big party, moaning and groaning and bouncing on the bed with everyone listening at the door. When other guys see how this works, they ask Olive for more or less the same favor. She begins charging (a Home Depot gift card or what have you).

Olive is not unnoticed any longer. Everyone thinks she's a slut, sho she decides to run with it. Having read The Scarlet Letter in English class, she starts dressing in negligee and wearing a scarlet A. She's a standout, which worries her English teacher. Who should definitely be worried, but not about Olive, as we discover.

Olive has the world's most understanding parents, Stanley Tucci and Priscilla Clarkson, which helps, and there's Mr. Right, who never believes all the rumors, which helps, too. All is more or less resolved in the end, at least for Olive. Not for the English teacher (why is is always an English teacher?) and not for some of the other characters.

Lightweight entertainment, good for some laughs. Check it out.