LET’S NOT AND SAY WE DID.
High schooler Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) lies about losing her virginity and finds that spreading rumors has interesting consequences in school… We’ve all seen high school movies inspired by Shakespeare, and here’s one that applies the drama of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” to this environment in a breezy, fun way. The director is a fan of John Hughes movies and it shows; expect clever dialogue and lovable characters that are never part of the in crowd. Stone’s charmingly laidback performance adds something to every scene; Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson are also terrific as her folks.
2010-U.S. 92 min. Color. Directed by Will Gluck. Cast: Emma Stone (Olive Penderghast), Penn Badgley (Todd), Amanda Bynes (Marianne Bryant), Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson… Stanley Tucci, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell.
Quote: “This is public school. If I can keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus.” (McDowell as the principal)
