High-schoolers deal with cliques, gossip, and rumors on a daily basis, and the new movie “Easy A” perfectly depicts these trials and tribulations.

The movie begins with Olive (Emma Stone), a brooding teenager, explaining her story of self discovery to the viewer through her web cam. By means of web-cam narration, she tells her online audience how rumors transformed her from a nobody to the person everyone’s gossiping about.

The movie takes its theme from “The Scarlet Letter,” as Olive deals with the same ostracism as Hester Prynne. To deal with the rumors and gossip, Olive embroiders an A on her clothes just as Hester Prynne did.

Bert V. Royal, the writer of “Easy A,” knows how to capture his teen audience, along with writing scenes that parents will appreciate too –especially with references to famous 1980’s movies. At one point she tells her audience that she wants a random musical scene for no apparent reason, she wants someone standing outside with a boom-box, and she wants Patrick Dempsey to pick her up in his car. These references, mixed with clips from the actual 1980s films, serve to give “Easy A” its light-hearted feel.

All of the actors and actresses in this movie work well together, playing off of each other’s talents. For his portrayal of love-interest, Todd, Penn Badgely seemingly falls back on the nice guy character he developed during his time on “Gossip Girl”; however, in “Easy A” Badgely’s acting talents shine because of his portrayal of his deep understanding for Olive’s feelings when helping her out.

The main star of the movie, Emma Stone, excels as the starlet of her first big-time movie. The sassy and witty lines that Stone mastered in her other movies are especially entertaining when she battles with on-screen rival Marianne (Amanda Bynes). As the movie progresses her character transforms into an understanding and caring friend of Marianne.

Stone talks directly to the camera with ease and humor. Olive resembles most of the other witty, carefree teenage characters that she’s played in movies, like Natalie in “House Bunny” and Jules in “Superbad.” However she has perfected her witty comments and teenage drama which makes this her best acting to date.

This movie lives up to the hype. So, if you’re looking for a movie that covers crude humor, some controversial religious comments, heartwarming family moments, and a modern day overview of the book “The Scarlet Letter,” you’ll love this movie.