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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR2011.005

(2010), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 27.5min)

Final Score
Analysis Date
Date Posted
Influence Density
MinMax
January 16, 2010
January 20, 2010
39
3.11
-100

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Christian Long Distance

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2010), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] ... all about sex ... teen sex.


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Screen Gems, Oliver Bridge Entertainment
Distribution (US): Screen Gems
Director(s): Will Gluck
Producer(s): Zanne Devine, Alicia Emmrich, Will Gluck, Mark Benton Johnson
Writing Credits: Bert V. Royal
Cinematography/Camera: Michael Grady
Music: Brad Segal
Film Editing: Susan Littenberg
Casting: Lisa Miller Katz
Production Design: Marcia Hinds
Art Direction: Bo Johnson
Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD



The title of this film itself is an innuendo. The film is filled with innuendo. And all about sex ... teen sex. And about profanity. And booze. All the things that define "teen." At least according to Hollywood.

From the first sight of the title I had my suspicions about the content. It is, after all, a PG-13. Well, my suspicions were 100% correct. This film is rife with premarital sexual intercourse between teens ... and calling it "love." None of the characters are evidently old enough (nor are the writers evidently wise enough) to know a teen does not have to be slave to sex drives but can be master of them. Evidently no one connected with the film has the wisdom to know that sex is not love and love is not sex: that sex is a tool of love. Nothing more. Nothing less. And evidently no one connected with the film is aware of the fact that God reserved such sex for the husband and wife; for the married man and woman pair. [1 Cor. 7:1 - 2, Deut. 22:29, 1 Cor. 7:9, 1 Thess. 4:1 - 7]

In one scene, the parents of Rhiannon (Alyson Michalka), a friend of the quintessential star, Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone), invite Olive to a lawn dinner. Rhiannon's parents appear to be nudists. In the scene the woman reaches across and above Olive with her left arm, pressing her nude left breast in Olive's face. That is about the best representation of the caliber of this film. Since that describes well the caliber of this film, there is little reason for you to read on if such cinematic demonstrations offend you (as they should). By the way, the Christian characters, led by Marianne Bryant (Amanda Bynes), secretary of the student council, chairman of the Orange Blossom dance committee and president of the Cross Your Heart Club who express Christian values and standards in the film are, of course, ridiculed and belittled, made to appear as shallow, judgmental and holier-than-thou.

I just completed the calculations of the scoring distribution for the content of this film. I really do not know what words will adequately express the depravity of the content of Easy A. It is little more than a teen cussfest and sexfest. Take a glance at the CAP thermometers. ZERO in Impudence/Hate (mostly due to profanity). ZERO in Sexual Immorality. ZERO in Offense to God. A final score of 39 out of 100 when R-rated films earned 54 and below in the comparative baseline database. This film is so serious an enemy of wholesome and noble values I came close to not taking the time to complete this report. But Paul did not shirk his duties to God in Corinth so I will take example from Paul and continue.

That comment in the immediately preceding sentence sounds just like a comment Marianne, who was portrayed as a holier-than-thou Bible-thumper, would use in the film. So be it. But that is how Hollywood has been ridiculing faith in and love of Jesus for years -- just another form of content to sing praises to rebellion and defiance of authority to lure those with foolishness bound in their hearts with smooth talk and fine-sounding augments that feed rebellion and defiance. [Prov. 22:15, Col. 2:4, Rom. 16:17 - 18, Jude 1:4]--THUMP, THUMP --

Back to the point. This film is equivalent to R-rated films in our comparative baseline database. Note that our model deals with magnitude and frequency of all assaults on morality and decency, not just with the most severe of individual assaults like the MPAA. The MPAA will slap an R on a film if there is an extreme of ignominy. Our model takes into account the impact of the lesser examples of assaults on morality as well. Indeed, a few examples of lesser assault on morality and decency can truly be equivalent in moral impact to a single but more extreme assault. For example, 100 instances of assault of the lesser kind can be as morally corrosive as 10 more extreme assaults. This relationship of many "lesser" assaults being equivalent to fewer but more bold assaults is what we revealed in the CAP Rule of 1000. Easy A is a prime example of the CAP Rule of 1000.

The final score of 39 out of 100 is quite enough to prove the content of this film is truly equivalent to most R-rated films, i.e., a R-13 film. But the final score is not the only indication of the R-rated equivalence of Easy A. In the comparative baseline database (the films analyzed by actual use of the analysis model for verification and validation of the model), R-rated films earned an Influence Density range of 0.78 to 2.04, the higher the figure the more dense the assaults on morality and decency. (The Influence Density is the frequency of assaults per unit of time.) Easy A earned an Influence Density score of 3.11, exceeding the most dense R content film in the baseline database by 186%! More proof of the R-equivalence of Easy A. The proof of the R-equivalence is based in unrelenting mathematical brutality -- each analysis report involves more than 30 mathematical equations which cannot be manipulated by personal opinion or other subjectivity.

I am not going to dignify this celluloid cyanide with a typical Summary/Commentary brief discussion of the plot and/or story. I will just say that if you imagine the most debaucherous tinkerings of Hollywood's apparent impression of all teenagers being drunken and cussing sex fiends, then you will have the story and plot. Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast builds a horrible lifestyle by building a horrible period of her life with lying about her sex life, lying about her lying and feeding the lies. The writers indeed attempt to redeem the film with some noble finale presentations (after the moral damage is done) but rest assured that a noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path.

Please look to the listings in the Findings/Scoring section for a detailed accounting of the content of this film.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 92 out of 100
The only matters of content applicable to this investigation area are an episode of reckless driving (which is another characteristic trait of "teen" according to Hollywood) and a demonstration of extortion to achieve sexual ends.

Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100
Yes, this film is another "teen" cussfest. At least adults playing teens -- Emma Stone was 21, Amanda Bynes was 24, Penn Badgley was also 24. Maybe being adult makes profanity "socially acceptable" but it does not excuse the sin of using profanity. Neither does being adult excuse the sin of emboldening youth to do likewise [Luke 17:2, Matt. 25:40]. Remember also that acting does not excuse sin. Fifty times someone uttered profanity. And only five of them by adult characters. [Col. 3:8] There is a number of other behavioral matters such as lying [Rev. 22:14 - 15, 21:8] that apply to this investigation area but I ask that you look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for more information about the content applicable to this investigation area.

Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100
Yes, this film is another "teen" sexfest. There is such disregard for sexual humility and such contempt for sexual purity that I have contempt for the writers who thought this stuff up and for the performers who demonstrated it. Remember, content does not have to be skin to be sex. There is so much to the sexual content of this film that I again ask that you look to the listing in the Findings/Scoring section for a detailed accounting of the sexual content. [Col. 2:20 - 3:6, 1 Ths. 4:1-5]

Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 43 out of 100
Of course, there is teen partying with booze. It must be so. It is a show about teens so there must be arrogance and rebellion to excuse booze in it. [Eph. 5:18] Must be? Must be ... sin? Yes, but Jesus Himself warned us about such thinking: Matt. 18:7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" Note that "man" in Matt. 18:7 is anthropos meaning man or woman, people, everyone. There is also one instance of teen smoking in the entire 87.5 minutes of program.

Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
The contempt for God's Word about abuse of His name was as rampant as contempt for His Word about profanity and sexual immorality. Twenty-one times someone uttered His name in vain, mostly by teens of course. [Deut. 5:11]

But of at least as dire significance as using His name in vain was the mockery of faith and practitioners of faith: of portraying having faith as undesirable; of portraying the practitioners as holier-than-thou.

Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
There were no murders or suicides noted.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

CHAPTER/VERSE

  • 1 Cor. 7:1 - 2 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication [porneia: illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc., sexual intercourse with close relatives, sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman], let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
  • Deut. 22:29 [The man who has immoral sex with a woman] shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. [Paraphrased, if a couple have sex before marriage, they must marry and stay married for the rest of their lives.]
  • 1 Cor. 7:9 But if they cannot contain [exhibit self-control, be continent], let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
  • 1 Thess. 4:1 - 7 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound [excel] more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification [purity], that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess [control] his vessel [body] in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence [desire for that which is forbidden, craving], even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man* go beyond [transgress] and defraud [take advantage of] his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. ["Fornication" is porneia: illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc., sexual intercourse with close relatives, sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman.]
  • Prov. 22:15 Foolishness [ivveleth: {iv-veh'-leth} folly, senselessness, thoughtlessness, recklessness] is bound in the heart of a child]; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. ["Ivveleth" is from the same as eviyl {ev-eel'}, meaning of one who despises wisdom; of one who mocks when guilty, is quarrelsome, is licentious (which, by the way, does not limit itself to youth). Note that the "rod" (of correction) does not have to be punishment and must never be physically harmful. A simple "good job" when warranted can serve as the "rod" as well. If you would like to know more, please visit our Spare the Rod ... Spoil the Child: A Parental Perspective article . It is rather long though.]
  • Col. 2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
  • Rom. 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. Rom. 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
  • Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice [kakia: ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, evil, trouble, not ashamed to break laws, etc.], and filthy language [aischrologia: foul speaking, low and obscene speech] from your lips.
  • Rev. 22:14-15 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city [eternal life in Heaven]. For without [outside Heaven] are dogs [dogs (animals) and metaphorically an unforgiven man of impure mind, an impudent man], and [unforgiven] sorcerers [pharmakos: pertaining to the magical arts; those who practice evil magic including witches, warlocks, wizards, sorcerers, spiritists, diviners, necromancers, etc.], and whoremongers [the sexually immoral], and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie [all liars - see Rev. 21:8].
  • Rev. 21:8 But the [unforgiven] fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers [the NIV calls it "magic arts" which includes those who practice evil magic including witches, warlocks, wizards, sorcerers, spiritists, diviners, necromancers, vampires, werewolves, etc.], and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
  • Col. 2:20 - 3:6 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
  • 1Ths. 4:1-5 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified [hagiasmos: purified in your heart and life]: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his [or her] own body [which includes control of drives, touching, seeking, lusting (even after images), speech, promiscuity, etc.] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; [Be master of your body and urges, not a slave to them. Be not a seeker of any manner of sexually-oriented imagery or behavior outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage. For any sexual contact (including visual), conduct or activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is sinful.]
  • Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [Since "drunk" is methusko {meth-oos'-ko}: to intoxicate; make drunk; to get drunk; become intoxicated, "wine" can be any intoxicating substance including illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs. The issue is do not abuse the body by intoxicating it [1 Cor. 6:19]. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk OR to drink in defiance such as underage drinking.]
  • 1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. [Vain is shav {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than in prayer, with respect or reverence or in responsible discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name or title. So, trying to excuse such expressions with "I was talking TO God/Jesus/Christ when I said that" or "It's just words" or "I was acting" or "I was quoting" will not work with God.]

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Jer. 37:9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'The Babylonians [the destroyers from within] will surely leave us.' They will not!
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Easy A (2010) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 92 out of 100
  • reckless driving
  • extortion to achieve sexual favor

    Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100
  • Fifty uses of profanity, 45 of them by teens
  • coaching to and willingness to lie to manipulate social image, repeatedly
  • lying, building of lies and fueling lies, frequent
  • social warfare
  • seeking pity for tormentations due to choice of lifestyle
  • existentialism (rejection of wholesome values in favor of amoral freedom)
  • treating wholesome values as undesirable, repeatedly
  • texting in class
  • abusive "Christian" parent
  • "I love it" about the use of profanity
  • excusing adultery with marital infidelity
  • encouraging reading the works of a suicide author
  • "I want to die" (though in humor)

    Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100
  • gamming
  • talk of human sexual anatomy, repeatedly
  • dressing to maximize the human form and/or skin exposure, frequent
  • talk of sexual intercourse and many other sexual matters, frequent
  • female upper nudity
  • nudity, mostly hidden, male and female
  • teen girl in shower
  • praising sexual immorality
  • feeling socially superior due to sexually immoral deed
  • female expressing pleasure at male shirtlessness
  • speaking of sexually immoral deeds as routine with less gravity than choosing color of socks
  • self touching
  • belittlement of noble values to excuse immoral choices, repeatedly
  • portrayal of teen boy as homosexual
  • homosexual talk and innuendo, repeatedly
  • homosexual insult
  • equating anatomy to social altitude
  • claim of bisexuality
  • admission of experimenting with homosexuality
  • breaking away to have sex
  • girl removing underwear
  • homosexual reference, repeatedly
  • homosexual mannerism, repeatedly
  • faking intercourse between teen boy and girl with exaggerated sound
  • reveling in sexual conquest
  • accepting of choice to practice homosexuality
  • sex song
  • public display of affection on high school property, repeatedly
  • inappropriate touch, repeatedly
  • school official giving condoms to teen student
  • adultery by school official with student
  • sensuous dance and dress in high school
  • snuggle between two teen boys in underwear
  • equating a kiss with the partner's tongue in the mouth
  • long sequences of bartering payment for sex fraud favor

    Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 43 out of 100
  • teen smoking
  • offer of booze to teen
  • feigning drunkenness by teens
  • teen drinking party
  • offer of beer by teen to teen
  • dinner wine

    Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100
  • 21 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive and 8 with it
  • cornuto (See Back to School Special)
  • claim that another is going to Hell, repeatedly
  • belittlement of faith, repeatedly
  • willing to go to Hell to get away from someone
  • long sequence of ridicule of faith
  • mockery of God
  • mockery of faith
  • claim that the Bible can be interpreted in many ways to excuse noncompliance with it
  • "...assuming there is a Hell...", repeatedly

    Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100
  • none noted















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    There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.



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