High school teenager Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) breezes through phrases like “terminal illogical inexactitude,” makes elaborate Google Earth metaphors and does it all without arrogance or even an upturned eyebrow. She is, in short, way out of any teenage boy’s

league. Olive accidentally develops a reputation as an “easy” girl after — to satiate her badgering best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) — she lies about losing her virginity. The rumor, spread by the school’s resident religious zealot Marianne (Amanda Bynes), moves at the speed of Twitter. Like a young actor, Olive embraces the role, even pinning a red “A’’ to her provocative outfits in an ode to Hester Prynne. For all its Hawthorne quoting, “Easy A” is clearly the stepchild of John Hughes. Will Gluck’s stylish direction of Bert V. Royal’s nimble, word-stuffed script results in a whip-smart film. It’s a terrifically deadpan, lively performance from Stone, but the adults nearly steal the film. With Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church and Lisa Kudrow. PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and some drug material. 93 minutes.

GRADE: ★★★ (out of 5).

Jake Coyle, Associated Press Writer

Directorial debuts by actors are sometimes scene-chewing, ego-stroking exercises. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s film, so refreshinglybereft of those qualities, is more content with humility and authenticity. Quiet and stuttering, Jack is a limo driver with the goal of landing a job with the MTA. Though apparently a sad sack, he shows hints of vibrancy, like a love for reggae. When his married friends, Clyde (JohnOrtiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega), set him up with Connie (Amy Ryan), he’s spurred to self-improvement. He learns to cook and Clyde — in the film’s best scenes — teaches him to swim. As Jack and Connie’s love blooms, Clyde and Lucy’s marriage is falling apart. The acting is top notch, particularly from Ortiz and Rubin-Vega, who both (along with Hoffman) starred in an earlier Broadway version by playwright Bob Glaudini. An ancestor of Paddy Chayefsky’s “Marty,” Hoffman’s film contains none of the easy, syncopated lilt of a reggae tune, but it moves to the awkward beat of life. Reespek, mon. R for language, drug use and some sexual content. 90 minutes.<B>GRADE:</B> ★★★¹⁄₂ (out of 5).<I>Jake Coyle, Associated Press Writer</I>