A close friend of mine passed away last week, and I would like to dedicate this review to him, though I am not sure he would agree with my review of this movie.

After viewing the trailer for this movie, I thought to myself, “This will simply be another teen movie, devoid of any real content.” Luckily, I was surprised after leaving the theatre.

Easy A is a teen movie about teen movies, and at times, borders on a parody of its own genre. Despite being directed by Will Gluck, whose career has mostly been on the small screen, it is able to operate without too many technical flaws.

The story is not profound or ingenious, and in that respect, it is able to fulfill the expectations of its genre. Emma Stone (Zombieland) stars as Olive Penderghast, the stereotypical nerd who is content spending her weekends alone.

The story takes off, however, when Olive lies to her friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka), about losing her virginity. Naturally, this news travels fast, and Olive quickly earns the reputation as the “bad girl” of the school. In this respect, the movie loosely (and I mean loosely) parallels The Scarlet Letter, which Olive is reading for class.

In an effort to rise in the ranks of popularity, other nerds offer her payment in return for the ability to spread the rumor that they slept together. The predictable plot continues, whilst Olive must navigate the attacks of the “crazy Christians” of her school, led by her nemesis Marianne (Amanda Bynes). I thought that my friend might ask, “What other gags are there?”

While this is all too cliché for anyone that has seen any teen movie ever, one aspect of the movie does stand out. From the beginning of the movie, Olive breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly, in order to narrate her account of what actually transpired. This enables the film to become self-referential and to reference its genre as well, as it does in other interesting series of scenes from other teen movies (whose relevance to current teens may be debatable, but which seem to represent our teen film canon), including Grease, Can’t Buy Me Love, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Also, it adds considerable comic effect to the clichés that abound in the film, including a dance scene in the school gymnasium. Another positive aspect of the comedy in this movie was the witty one-liners that Olive and her male interest, Woodchuck Todd (Penn Badgley) exchange. While the dialogue may be too mature for actual high-schoolers, it doesn’t seem forced by the actors. Also, small roles by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) aid in the comedy.

Like most teen movies, it addresses the extreme public self-awareness that makes adolescence such a stressful developmental period.

Even though it does try to introduce serious discussion about bullying and ostracism in high school, it does little in the way of offering actual suggestions for current adolescents.

Overall, Easy A is a light-hearted teen comedy that can be enjoyed by all, so long as you don’t take it too seriously.

Easy A opens in theaters on Sept. 17.