Iffy for 14+
Teen Scarlet Letter update is smart but risque.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this smart teen comedy inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel The Scarlet Letter centers on a straight-laced teen (Emma Stone) who gets caught up in the school rumor mill (partly thanks to gossip spreading via Facebook and texting) -- a situation that many teens will be able to identify with. Labeled promiscuous after she tells a white lie and, later, exacerbates that lie with another, she quickly loses control of the situation (though, because this is a movie, she manages to cope with poise and wit). Although little action is shown, the subject of sex permeates the whole film, and there are lots of innuendoes/references and situations (including talk about losing virginity), as well as incidents in which kids judge one another. There's also some swearing (including "s--t") and allusions to underage drinking.
- Families can talk about gossip and bullying. What role does technology play in how the gossip about Olive spreads? How can you prevent that kind of thing from happening in real life?
- Why does Olive perpetuate the gossip about her? What does she get out of it, considering that it also torments her? Is her reaction believable?
- Does the movie do a good job of modernizing a classic book? Do the movie and the novel The Scarlet Letter have the same message? Where do they differ?
The good stuff
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Messages: In keeping with its connection to Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the film thumbs its nose at hypocrisy and those who stand in judgment of others. Though it sometimes goes about this noble goal in a ham-handed way -- i.e. by stereotyping certain groups (like Christians and high schoolers in general) -- it does confront important questions about labeling and judging others (especially when your own life isn't perfect).
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Role models: Olive gets an undeserved reputation for being sleazy and fights back by throwing other people's judgments in their face. Instead of submitting to her peers' small-mindedness, she stands up for herself (though she does sometimes go about it in an ill-advised manner). She uses humor to deflect cruelty and has a soft heart. She does bend the truth, sometimes to her detriment -- and she also takes the iffy step of demanding payment (in the form of gift cards) for helping guys with their reputations -- but in the end she finds that honesty really is the best policy. Her parents are both irreverent and supportive, and a young man accepts her for who she is rather than who she's reputed to be.
What to watch for
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Violence: A teen slaps a peer; another gets into a fight, though viewers don't see the actual skirmish -- just him nursing a bleeding nose. A guy gets pushy trying to kiss a girl.
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Sex: Though viewers don't actually see anyone having sex, the characters talk about it a lot, and the subject permeates the whole movie. Virginity (and the loss thereof) is a frequent topic of discussion. High schoolers gossip about a classmate's sex life. A girl and a boy fake having sex behind closed doors by making very loud grunting sounds and talking "dirty" to each other. A main character wears suggestive clothing to confront her "easy" reputation. A teacher talks about having sex with a student (who's of age). A quick glimpse of the side of a breast (the woman's a nudist). There's a vibrator in the movie, though it's not seen (wrapped in paper). Mention of a sexually transmitted disease.
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Language: Language includes several uses of "s--t," plus "ass," "hell," "damn," "screw," "tw-t," "skank," "d--k," "t-t," and "whore." Also "goddamn" and "oh my God."
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Consumerism: Lots of logos/mentions of stores/brands, including Costco, Home Depot, Target, Quiznos, T.J. Maxx, Bath & Body Works, and other mall-type stores (most are in the context of gift cards that the main character takes as payment for doing reptuation-related "favors" for guys).
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A bong is shown briefly. A teen asks another if he can fetch her a drink at a party (though viewers don't see them imbibing).
Fan Reviews provided by
3
Emma Stone is the best.... by lovestalentmoviefan
...part of what,to me,is a pretty lukewarm movie. She made the movie worth watching and I do not regret spending the time or money. BUT...otherwise,just not as funny as I thought it would be. There were great scenes with her parents,Clarkson and Tucci,two favorites of mine. Her initial romp with a kid needing her help to fake a 'roll in the hay' was pretty funny,but the rest was too scattered. Didn't feel an ounce of spark or romance with the 'love interest and didn't even see a need for that role';a very serious STD and marriage wrecking situation was totally out of place in this film; the group of Christian kids making life hard on Stone was too caricaturish for the rest of the school,or the movie for that matter. I wouldn't see it twice but,again,because of Stone,I enjoyed a single viewing.
5
Easy A review by Punk_Kanellis
When did this come out? Like, 2009 I think? Well, I?m still watching it in 2011! I just bought it at Target yesterday. Is there a way to combine the words sexy, smart, hot and wonderful in the same sentence? Because that?s what this movie is! It tells the tales of highschool rumors gone ary, a long-lost love, and
80's movies? I can?t possibly tell you how wonderful this movie is, so I guess you?ll just have to watch it for yourself!
The cast? It?s star-studded! Emma Stone plays the main character, Olive Pentergast. Alyson Michalka plays the snobby best friend, Amanda Bynes plays the jesus-freak, Penn Badgley plays the sexy man in love with Miss Olive, and Lisa Kudrow plays the cheating guidance counselor, and so much more!
2
Five Word Review by QBert2
ratpack wannabe she's not Demi
5
Easy A by ashleycarrion
Definitely a laugh out loud movie. Even great for a date :)
2
stupid movie by bumbullbee
This movie was just stupid...too much language, nothing heartwarming about it. Wish I had just stayed home.
3
not so great by diet pepsi
i realy wanted to enjoy this movie and i tried to put all the dirty content behind me and let it slide but there was just so mutch wrong with this movie that i could not do that it was just filthy but i guess it was not all bad some of it was funny just not alot
5
Easy A by velasquez05
Very funny movie with a educational storyline (how teen peers are). I took my daughters to see it (15 and 13 years old). They really enjoyed it, as did I.
4
fun movie by radavis6
Yeah, this was just a fun movie, an escape. I think the cast really made it even better. I don't know who the lead was, but she was great; and her parents were hilarious.
5
A great comedy for anyone who went to high school by whatdowedo
I enjoyed this movie so much I saw it twice. It has an awesome dialogue, witty and smart. The cast was excellent: Emma Stone could not have been more perfect for the part with great performances from Stanley Tucci and Lisa Kudrow. And the story wasn't just some knock-off The Scarlett Letter, it was a new story with its own twists and turns. If you don't want to see it in theatres, its definitely worth renting
3
Kind-Of entertaining by LeonardoDiCaprioXD
Well, if you want to see a movie with another troubled teen in high school that everybody ignores movie.. then go ahead.