Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) is accused of adultery and sin and must adhere for her punishment, but she can only find redemption through the web and her online confession of the actuality of the events that have been spread through halls of high school.
Before she was labeled a harlot, she was a typical normal high school girl who flew under the radar of being unknown at Ojai High School. Her lies of her recent activities of the weekend to her friend, Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) leads to the belief that Olive lost her virginity. Once words spreads, she becomes the attraction the eyes of the student population.
This also attracts the attention of the school's religious group who take it upon themselves to save this lost soul who must be saved by the leader of the group, Marianne (Amanda Bynes). The rivalry between Ms. Stone and Ms. Bynes works in that their characters are antithesis of one another. Their verbal disputes of one another leads to hilarity as they try to top each other. But since this is high school, ideologies and emotions sway - one day enemies, the next days the best of friends.
Enjoying her newfound popularity and appeal, Olive decides to help the downtrodden. The first person that she helps is Brandon (Dan Byrd), who first proposes the idea of hooking up with Olive to avoid being bullied because of his sexual orientation. However, Olive’s price is not cheap as she makes men out of high school boys without having to engage in physical activities. Once word spreads of how Olive can help those survive the tough stomping grounds that is high school, she begins to receive gentlemen callers of her own.
Because of her latest business proposition, she is ostracized and outcasted, but at the moment she wears her letter proudly upon her chest. The movie is based off Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” which is being taught her by her favorite English teacher, Mr. Griffith (Thomas Haden Church). Mr. Church is possibly the only adult and authority figure in the film who shows concerns of Olive's recent transformatio and of her embrace of her pariah status.
Olive, the high school student, must become the adult who has to learn the consequences of her actions and must find a way out of the rumor that she started before it envelops her identity and while avoiding the loss of her friend. The adults in the film are of no help in that they are free-spirited individuals, i.e. Olive’s parents portrayed by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson. It’s easy to see where Olive gets her personality, sense of humor and openness.
Even the authority figures in school, the principal portrayed by Malcolm McDowell, only care about getting through the school year without having to worry about incidents on school grounds. When Olive goes to the guidance counselor, played by Lisa Kudrow, makes things only worse as the film progresses, being that she’s married to Mr. Griffith, and would let the issue blow off before resolving to get involved.
Being a high school film, the influences of the ‘80s teenage-angst can be found whether it’d be the outcast girl who is pining for her first crush, Todd (Penn Badgley). Also the film features a musical number in which Ms. Stone sings accompanied by the school band in the auditorium and an ending montage that would do films of those genres proud with its homage.
Ms. Stone’s character beckons to another high school character that was featured during the ‘90s with Alicia Silverstone’s character Cher in “Clueless.” Both characters narrate their tales of getting through high school and are strong characters who show vulnerability. They also attempt to capture the youth and soliloquy of the teenage mind with the expression and euphemism.
What will distinguish this film from the high school film of the ‘80s and ‘90s is the incorporation of technology and communication. Now word spreads quicker than ever with cell phone and texting capabilities. Also what got Olive in this situation with technology will allow her for her redemption by confessing to her crimes hoping to be abdicated of these charges and clear her name.
DVD Features
· Audio Commentary with Director Will Gluck and Emma Stone
· Gag Reel, Previews
· Emma Stone webcam audition with footage.
Classification: DVD Release
Movie Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.
Ms. Stone is a new bred of comedic actresses who can elicit humor and can hopefully avoid the downfall of being pinned down as merely an actress who can only be featured in romantic comedies.
DVD Grade: 3.0 stars out of 5 stars
The rental version of the film features commentary and brief look at Ms. Stone’s audition footage reading off lines for the opening of the film.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and drug material.
Timing: 1 Hour, 32 Minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance.
· Director: Will Gluck
· Writer: Bert V. Royal
· Actors: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow, Aly Michalka, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd with Malcolm McDowell.
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