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SYNOPSIS:
In this charming, critically acclaimed tale of rumors and reputation, Olive (Emma Stone), an average high school student, sees her below-the-radar existence turn around overnight once she decides to use the school's gossip grapevine to advance her social standing.
Now her classmates (Amanda Bynes, Aly Michalka) are turning
against her and the school board is becoming concerned, including
her favorite teacher (Thomas Haden Church) and the distracted
guidance counselor (Lisa Kudrow). With the support of her
hilariously idiosyncratic parents (Stanley Tucci, Patricia
Clarkson) and a little help from a long-time crush (Penn Badgley),
Olive attempts to take on her notorious new identity and crush
the rumor mill once and for all.
MOVIE
REVIEW:
We didn’t think very much of this movie
when its promotional poster was first released. What, another
one of those “look at me because I’m young and
pretty” teen girl flicks? Throw in some so called quirkily
written dialogue (which is actually nothing more than whiny
most of the time), and the filmmakers expect audiences to
find the movie smart and entertaining? And no offence to leading
lady Emma Stone, the last time we “heard” her
was in the doggone comedy Marmaduke (201). So don’t
blame us for thinking that she won’t be able to hold
the teen comedy together because she does look nothing more
different from other cutest movie starlets out there.
But boy, were we wrong about our views. This
Will Gluck directed teen comedy is not your normal teen girl
flick, and it does feature some smartly entertaining lines.
Stone as the leading lady? Spot on.
The 22 year old American (who is best friends
with the very popular Taylor Swift, or so we heard) plays
Olive, a clean cut high school student who blends in so well
with her friends, she feels that she needs to do something
to up her social and financial standing. In a twist of events,
she manages to get the gossip mongers of her school’s
rumour mill to advance her status in school. And the more
she gets involved in this rather unconventional way of becoming
popular, the more she enjoys it. The ending? No worries –
it will be as clean cut as Stone is.
Unlike the other teen comedies (we can’t
even remember any titles to quote examples), this one does
not exude self importance. Instead, it relies on its quirkily
written screenplay (kudos to Bert V. Royal) to bring out the
frustrations faced by an average high school student. Through
a little exaggeration and dramatisation (this is inevitable
in movies, really), our protagonist goes through a series
of events which you and I may really succumb to under such
circumstances. Oh, the temptation of being the most popular
kid in school!
Although Stone does not look any more different
from her counterparts in Hollywood, she appears smarter than
them. Her portrayal as Olive is immensely likeable and enjoyable.
She is joined by other teen stars like Amanda Bynes (Hairspray)
as a zealous Christian who is irritating more than anything
else, Penn Badgley (TV’s Gossip Girl) as the obligatory
love interest, and Dan Byrd (The Hills Have Eyes) as the gay
best friend. Stone also has the backup of veteran actors like
Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow and Stanley
Tucci playing supporting characters (of which all are relevant
to the story, and they are a joy to watch.
Without
giving away too much, the plot also revolves around the classic
novel The Scarlet Letter, a story about adultery and shame.
How this is weaved into the movie is intelligent and bright.
There is a contemporary approach to this teenage tale which
makes it pertinent to audiences.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains a lightweight and breezy
Commentary with Director Will Gluck and Emma Stone.
You will get entertaining nuggets like the humourous incidents
and trivia during the production. There is also a fairly funny
five minute Gag Reel and a 20 minute
Emma Stone Audition Footage which will have you convinced
why this fresh faced lady is the perfect candidate for the
role of Olive.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The
movie’s visual transfer is clear and pristine. You can
watch it in English, Portuguese, Spanish or Thai Dolby Digital
5.1.
MOVIE RATING:
 
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted on 15 March 2011
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