Juno

Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Jason Reitman - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over more

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The word 'quirky' has become the quick and easy way to describe films such as LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and LARS AND THE REAL GIRL that straddle the lines between indie and studio films...
more...and comedy and drama. While JUNO fits into that same category, this distinctive dramedy is in a class all its own. Ellen Page (HARD CANDY) stars as Juno, a witty teenage girl whose boredom doesn't lead her to the mall. Instead, she makes a one-time trip into the arms of her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera, SUPERBAD). When Juno discovers that she's pregnant, she's forced to grow up fast as she tries to find adoptive parents for her quickly growing child.
JUNO might have a lot of strengths--Page's award-worthy performance, a pitch-perfect soundtrack, excellent direction from Jason Reitman--but it's the screenwriting debut of writer Cody Diablo that makes this such a winning film. Famous for her blog and her book CANDY GIRL - A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF AN UNLIKELY STRIPPER, Diablo has a unique voice and an incredible ear for dialogue that led to her winning a Bafta and an Academy Award for JUNO's script. But even the nearly perfect script wouldn't sound so good if it weren't for the talents of these actors, particularly Page. She won rave reviews for her first major role in HARD CANDY, but this performance proves it wasn't a fluke. The rest of the cast, especially J.K. Simmons as Juno's dad, is just as worthy of attention. JUNO continues Cera's cinematic ascent after his success with the hit comedy SUPERBAD, and his ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT co-star Jason Bateman uses his dry delivery to great effect as a potential parent for Juno's baby.

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Juno

A review by ollie19 on Juno DVD
July 4th, 2008

Author's product rating: Juno DVD - rated by ollie19

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Excellently original and charming
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

A fresh and charming comedy, which deals with a down to earth topic in a very heart-warming way.

Juno's originality and touching appeal centre's around the excellent script writing of Diablo Cody in her first screenplay. Although Juno enters into a very saturated genre as a teen character based comedy it has infinitely more charm than the throw-away teenage based comedy's such as 'superbad' and the 'American Pie' series.

The heart of Juno's charm as a film comes from Ellen Page's fantastic leading performance as the 16 year old Juno MacGuff who 'accidently' finds herself pregnant. The father of her baby is her best friends Paulie Bleeker played by Michael Cera (better known as the tall one from Superbad.) Juno is a sarcastic, cynical down to earth teen who's appeal and personality creates the movie's sense of originality and brilliance. After deciding not to go through with her abortion Juno sets about trying to find a couple willing adopt her yet unborn baby.

With the help of her friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby), as well as her surprisingly supportive father (J.K Simmons) and stepmom (Allison Janney) Juno finds a childless couple called Mark and Vanessa. Juno's chosen couple, Mark and Vanessa (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), are an affluent suburban couple who's 'too good to be true' characteristics and lifestyle for me created an uneasy feeling around them. This feeling proved to be to some extent correct and helped to create a very touching ending to this film which certainly kept me guessing until the end.

A final aspect of Juno which I believe deserves a mention is the fantastic soundtrack. The simple indie soundtrack features such big names as The Kinks, Buddy Holly, Sonic Youth and The Velvet Underground fit perfectly with Juno's own punkish tastes. Juno also features several beautifully simple acoustic songs written by Kimya Dawson which fit incredible well to the heart-warming, feel good nature of the film.

Overall Juno is a stunningly original and charming film who's humour and entertainment is derived from a highly believable performance from Ellen Page which makes Juno an instant classic.