MovieChat Forums > Easy A (2010) Discussion > What if Olive was an 'ugly' girl?

What if Olive was an 'ugly' girl?

posted 13 years ago by lisaweird
38 replies | jump to latest

If Olive was an "ugly" girl (TV ugly I guess. God forbid you see somebody's acne or whatever) would the movie have a different meaning and would we all react differently to it?

What bothered me about the character of Olive was that she was played by the gorgeous Emma Stone. I had a hard time believing that somebody who was pretty, funny, clever and no to mention didn't put up with most people's crap would be ignored... EVEN in a high school. Normally people like Olive excel in social situations and don't have a hard time making friends or being noticed. I didn't buy it at all.

If Olive was played by an actress who was just as funny and clever but not very attractive I would believe the character a little more, or at least would have understood why she was ignored by her peers and maybe why it was such a big deal when she became a so-called slut. It would have seemed unlikely and outrageous to the other students who didn't care about her before.

I'm not saying pretty girls are more likely sluts than unattractive girls but in Hollywood land it seems taboo to cast somebody who isn't easy on the eyes. A lot of movies cop out and cast the hot up and coming actress just to get an audience. I love movies and I've seen my fair share... I'm just getting really, REALLY tired of miscasting for superficial reasons.

That's evolution, baby. So mutate or step aside.

[–] nastylev 12 years ago

If the main character was 'ugly' we would have liked her (and subsequently the movie) because she was funny, smart and nice. Pretty was just a bonus (that Hollywood seems to think is mandatory).

P.S. This wasn't a case of 'miscasting for superficial reasons'. Emma Stone has a strong screen presence and reasonable acting skills. And since her character basically carries this movie it was important to cast someone with her qualities. Discrimination works both ways. Should she not have been cast because she is beautiful?

[–] steffeeric 12 years ago

Nobody wants to see some pig shaking it on the screen.

[–] BrianAwesome 12 years ago

You are right, but this is how Hollywood works. If they had a less attractive girl play Olive, half the people watching would get bored halfway through. And we can't blame Hollywood for this. Hollywood is just a big business. They choose whichever actors/actresses can make the most money for their movies. If the viewing public wanted average looking actors, they'd go with that, but that's not the case in our society.

It also is a little bothersome that Emma Stone is playing this part of too mature, too smart high schooler. She's 21 years old. So of course she's going to act and talk mature for a high schooler. This is another thing Hollywood loves to do and we just got to accept it. Emma Stone does carry the movie, so i really am not complaining about her being casted here.

I got nothing.

[–] daMasterShoNuff 12 years ago

I believed her character. Just because Emma is adorable doesn't mean her character couldn't have been a complete loner. Being cute does not equal popularity. Her character didn't make being popular and on the radar a priority so she wasn't. Believe it or not some kids just don't care. I didn't. I related to Olive a lot. I just couldn't deal with high school politics so I did my work and graduated managing to make a few good friends on the way. That was enough for me. I just wanted to get my diploma and get out. Much like me, she seemed like she was just beyond her classmates stupidity before the rumors started.

She had a great personality but only the people who took the time to actually interact with her got that.

[–] blazingangel-2 12 years ago

I have met people at my high school who were a bit like Olive. I would put my money on the fact that she had a good family support system, so having very little friends in high school didn't bother her as much.

I think the other thing to keep in mind is that her school is small and highly religious, the town is not that big either, so gossip goes around fast.

[–] MusicLovePoetry 12 years ago

First of all, I have seen things like this with ugly girls in real life many times. Second of all, Emma is pretty/average, but she is in no way gorgeous and if she went to my HS or what not she would not be considered a hot one and what not.

[–] steffeeric 12 years ago

What high school do you go to?

[–] MikeStvns 12 years ago

To the OP's question: the movie wouldn't make any sense.

It's dependent on that Olive is attractive; otherwise, guys wouldn't be bragging about having sexual relations with her (and paying her to brag about it).

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man [...] views

[–] Ashley868 12 years ago

It is kind of surprising that a beautiful girl would be ignored, but then again, guys aren't going to want to have sex with an ugly girl, not even pretend sex. Why would guys brag about losing their virginity to someone who is ugly? They would be ashamed of it. They wouldn't even want to hold their head up in school if that were the case. So it makes sense that a beautiful girl is cast for the part. And an ugly girl wouldn't be able to dress up like a slut without having people wanting to burn their eyes out.

[–] NinetyEighty 12 years ago

I agree, I thought the point of her character was that she was desirable and that's why it was a big deal. But I'm pretty sure that she was actually supposed to be popular; people knew who she was, they let her in at the party, no one was mean to her before. It's sad to talk of said ugly people, but I don't understand what the OP's perspective was...What's the stereotype that attractive people always get attention? Perhaps Olive chose not to hang with people....Personality goes a long way as well...Sorry but I remember seeing out-going people who were popular but they look quite average, and then I've seen attractive people who were not so socially popular.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] velcronewsletter 12 years ago

she's average for me. i think shes pretty but not stunning and i don't see how its unrealistic for someone that looks like her to not be popular

[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

I'm not ugly, I'm a smartass and I'm not popular at all in high school.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

[–] NinetyEighty 12 years ago

Popularity is misunderstood and misplaced I think anyway. And I'm sure you're cool as sh*t

[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

I can't wait for college though.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

[–] Knokkelmann 12 years ago

yeah, stuff like that bugs me, too, in most movies. But at least they didn't try to make her (movie-)ugly (with stereotypical glasses/bracers or stuff) or pull off some ugly duckling story (which btw. I consider an odd fairytale because I find swans HIDEOUS, and ducks, well... at least not as hideous as swans :-)