The Genius of Easy A

A video essay analyzing the teen comedy, Easy A (2010), specifically its characters, dialogue, tropes, and themes.

Chapters:
00:00-01:17 intro and spoilers
01:18-03:40 background
03:41-05:45 movie vs script
05:46-09:44 "unrealistic" dialogue
09:45-12:42 subverting the 4th wall
12:43-16:15 olive penderghast
16:16-19:38 rhiannon
19:39-21:21 mean girl trope
21:22-23:08 role reversal
23:09-24:41 character want vs need
24:42-30:06 woodchuck todd
30:07-34:53 olive's parents
34:54-36:49 theme
36:50-37:17 ending

Art by Joyblivion on Instagram

Sources:

[princessleia]

My favorite Stanley Tucci line is *slaps table* “who told you?!” When her brother says he’s adopted 😂

[MeredithHagan]

Honestly one of my favorite things about Easy A is the feeling you get that these classmates have all known each other since they were much younger. “We haven’t talked in a while.” One of the reasons middle and high school can be so socially difficult is because we naturally drift away from our grade school friends to form new social groups. Olive’s journey is partially reconnecting with people she became distant from, while asserting her voice with her only current friend. It makes her so compelling on that front alone, before even taking her fantastic wit into account.

This video essay is wonderful! You made me appreciate I movie I already loved even more.

[thislycantomboy]

this movie is entirely the reason I’ll watch Emma Stone in anything, I won’t lie. to this day, the joke about “the book discussed in the English class of a movie must always be relevant to the plot” lives in my head, rent free

[commieswine]

I absolutely love, love, love the family dynamic in this movie. Honestly one of the only teen movies that stuck with me. Glad to see other people love it as much as I do.

[nocchi.]

Rhiannon being in love with Olive makes SO much sense. I will rewatch this film with such a completely different view of her now.

[DesertHomesteader]

I always read the "unrealistic dialog" in Easy A as a teen who mostly hangs out with her hippie/educated parents. I know this happens because I spoke differently than my peers in high school as well. That said, I'd also say that these scripts really need to be reviewed and edited by a group of actual teens.

[katherine]

I think Olive's parents had a big effect on parents in later teen movies but they didn't get what made them great. IDK if you've seen Crush but the mum in that felt really reminiscent of Olive's mum but with no boundaries, no ability to read the room or know when to take the moment seriously. Olive's parents are cheeky and they will be embarrassing sometimes in a playful way but they never take it too far to the point it becomes invasive because they know their daughter.

[lydiaboyle]

You're telling me OLIVE's parents were ROSEMARY AND DILL? That is hilarious

[HannerBananer]

The sound bit when he’s the woodchuck “chewing” on the wood 😂😂

[puffpuffjess]

the 'c'est/say la vie' 'la vie' joke flew over my head for YEARS until i rewatched it recently, truly the movie that keeps on giving lol

[Archius]

Stanley Tucci’s “WHAT! WHO TOLD YOU!?” Was genius

[morganleanderblake]

Amanda Bynes did NOT get enough credit for this movie. She was chewing every scene she was in and it makes me bonkers that the only people who get credit for doing that are old men.

[MamaJayde]

I watching Emma go from Easy A to Poor Things. It feels like they really help embody her growth as an actress, but she’s still funny, bold and against the grain. She’s phenomenal.

[ivealwaysbeenswimming]

I’d like to think that Olive being such a good character stems from her stellar parents. And honestly, when I first watched this movie, I almost sobbed due to how much of a stark contrast they were to my own.

[melffyyy]

Fr if you keep uploading video essays of this standard for like a couple more months you're not only gonna become one of the most popular analyser YouTubers but probably one of the best YouTubers on the site. Incredible stuff

[SkwithOv]

i've always really appreciated todd because he listens to her and what she wants in a way that's genuine and thoughtful
he's not trying to be nice to get something, he just likes her and wants to be a good person

[lydz]

Easy A instantly became one of my all time favorite movies. I never felt like it was talked about enough so the fact you're covering it has me so excited!

[sarahviola]

The sound Penn badgley makes when “chewing” on the wood plays in my head randomly all the time

[abrielle]

Easy A is a Gem! Tod is so underrated and I'm so jealous of her parents.

[lorduxus]

As a parent myself Olive's parents have always resonated with me. but this hits deep:

regarding their children's lives; they are:
curious but not invasive,
relaxed but not negligent,
interested but completely non-judgemental.

within this space, there is a sense of safety that encourages openness.