WILL GLUCK

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB. 

USA, 2010.  Screen Gems, Olive Bridge Entertainment.  Screenplay by Bert V. Royal.  Cinematography by Michael Grady.  Produced by Zanne Devine, Will Gluck.  Music by Brad Segal.  Production Design by Marcia Hinds.  Costume Design by Mynka Draper.  Film Editing by Susan Littenberg.  

Emma Stone couldn’t be more deserving of her own film, particularly after having stolen scenes in films like Superbad and The House Bunny, and is shown off to great effect in this hilariously twisted comedy about a high school girl who wants to avoid spending the weekend with her best friend and so tells her that she has started dating a college student and will be losing her virginity to him. The rumour gets around school and pretty soon gay boys trying to avoid being persecuted, fat guys trying to gain street cred and all manner of misfits are hitting Stone up for false credentials, paying her (in gift cards, no less) to lie and say that she has been balling them too, despite the fact that in reality she is still a virgin. Throw in an overzealous Christian girl (Amanda Bynes) who heads a virginity-pledging after-school group, and a foul-mouthed guidance counselor (Lisa Kudrow) who enjoys more than just talking to her students, and you have the makings of a world-class mess. Upon close examination, this film does not veer far from the usual tracks made by teen comedies, but you’ll be enjoying Stone’s performance and the witty dialogue so much you won’t even care to look that hard. Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are delightful as her warmly liberal parents, and the boy that Stone is chasing throughout the entire film (Penn Badgley) is, refreshingly, worth her time, as winsome and charismatic as she is. It’s no Clueless, since nothing ever will be, but it is a winner.

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Actress-Musical/Comedy (Emma Stone)

Toronto International Film Festival:  2010