Movie Review: Juno
It takes more than sound bites and quirky dialogue to make a successful indie movie. It also takes more than inserting a pregnant teen into the script to make for a poignant movie. But JUNO succeeds as an amazingly heartfelt and entertaining film because it contains both real poignancy and a whip-smart script, and transcends its genre at the same time.
Ellen Page plays the titular Juno, a 16-year old who finds herself quite pregnant after a brief encounter with Paulie Bleeker, an ubernerd in a track suit played by Michael Cera (Superbad, Arrested Development). Juno decides to give up her child for adoption to a yuppie couple, played by Jennifer Garner (in her best movie role ever as a frigid suburbanite) and Jason Bateman (equally effective as a fading hipster in his 30s).
It’s not an understatement to say that Page’s performance was, at least for me, one of the most successful bits of acting I’ve seen all year. She’s utterly pitch-perfect and charming, which is essential to the film as she is in pretty much every scene. Juno starts off as a regular wise-cracking, sardonic teen, but as the film progresses and we become more immersed in her world, the more we see the coming-of-age in the character — Juno soon becomes the most adult of the people in her world. Page pulls this off without a hitch.
The supporting cast of JUNO is also up to the task. Michael Cera knows how to play timid and geeky better than anyone, and his Paulie Beeker is a bit one-note but otherwise flawless. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney are also fantastic as Juno’s father and stepmother. Juno’s relationships with her friends and her parents are complex and transcend the typical portrayals of generation gaps and teen heartache. It’s realistic while still immensely entertaining and satisfying.
Much has been made of JUNO’s writer, Diablo Cody — former stripper and blogger (not sure which is worse). I don’t know of anything else she’s written, but she has done a great job with her first work, at least. Similarly, director Jason Reitman (THANK YOU FOR SMOKING) has completely nailed the modern teenage angst, while placing the story in a somewhat otherworldly context not dissimilar from how NAPOLEON DYNAMITE mirrored quasi-rural Idaho. The result is one of the best movies of the year, no foolin’.
Thanks for the review. This looks fantastic. I thought “Thank You for Smoking,” while not perfect, showed that Jason Reitman is a director with promise and a unique vision. Glad to see that his follow up looks even better.
Comment by BTD Greg — December 12, 2007 @ 11:52 am
I’m trying to figure out why this movie doesn’t appeal to me. I think it’s just that it doesn’t ring true at all to my experience of teen pregnancy. (Not that I was pregnant as a teen—well, ok, 19, but I was married.) I’ve known a lot of preggo teenagers and I just can’t see a cutesy feel-good movie based around any of it.
Comment by Susan M — December 12, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
I’ll go see it.
Comment by tracy m — December 12, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Although, along with Susan, my experience with young, unplanned pregnancy is anything but cute or humorous.
Comment by tracy m — December 12, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Maybe my favorite movie of the year. I can’t lay enough praise on it.
Comment by Rusty — December 12, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
I should note that Juno is rated PG-13.
Comment by Supergenius — December 12, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
i can’t wait to see this. to me it doesn’t look so cutesy feel-good as much as bittersweet. possibly more bitter than sweet. but, i like movies like that. thanks for the review, it seems to be getting good reviews all around.
Comment by aubrey — December 12, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
supergenius, how did you get in to see it so early? did you get into a sneak preview?
Comment by aubrey — December 12, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
aubrey, members of the press (like supergenius and the other authors of this blog) get to screen movies before they open in theaters.
Comment by BTD Greg — December 12, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
not dissimilar from how NAPOLEON DYNAMITE mirrored quasi-rural Idaho.
If only Napoleon Dynamite had been the one to get her pregnant…
Comment by a random John — December 12, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
lucky ducks.
Comment by aubrey — December 12, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
I was also of the impression that this movie was on the bittersweet side rather than cutesy and feel good. But, having not seen it yet…
I’d been reading some good stuff about it, but it’s nice to read something from someone I’m a little more familiar with.
It’s on my list to rent when it comes out(hey, we’re college students)
Comment by mo mommy — December 12, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
Thanks for the review, Supergenius. I think the previews look terrific, and Page looks really, really good. I’m looking forward to this one.
Comment by Kevin Barney — December 12, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
It’s not a cutesy feel-good movie. It’s just a great one.
Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2007 @ 12:42 am
SO glad y’all reviewed this. the last movie i saw was “pirates 3,” eesh. i’d never heard of it, but the trailer looks GREAT! my husband’s office party is friday and since we’ll have a sitter, i think we’ll cut out before the debauchery begins and sneak a flick! thank you for posting it! i bet we’ll love it!
Comment by makakona — December 13, 2007 @ 2:33 am
Does the movie have the same feel as the trailers, or are those misleading?
Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Susan, the trailers are a little misleading. They’re trying to sell it for the Napoleoon Dynamite crowd. That’s not entirely inaccurate, as this film is funny and quirky. But the emotional side of things is far more serious and real than anything in Napoleon Dynamite.
Comment by Supergenius — December 13, 2007 @ 11:58 am
My husband, who grew up in Idaho, says Napoleon Dynamite is as real as it gets.
Comment by Susan M — December 13, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
My husband, who grew up in Preston itself, says Napoleon Dynamite is incredibly spot on! If not a little painful…
I can’t wait to see Juno! I was sold at Jason Bateman as an aging hipster…
Comment by gabby — December 13, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
I’m looking forward to Juno, I still can’t find any information on when it opens in Utah though.
Comment by jjohnsen — December 14, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Jjohnsen, it’s showing now in Holliday.
Comment by Supergenius — December 14, 2007 @ 11:43 am
That would be Holladay, SG? Don’t be mispellin’ my ‘hood.
Where are you seeing it SG? I don’t think it’s here yet.
Comment by MCQ — December 14, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
erp — I guess you’re right. Try emailing Fox Searchlight to get it shown, they’re usually pretty open to such things.
Comment by Supergenius — December 14, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
okay, i had to run right home and comment. we ditched the last half of the office party for “juno.” my husband was a bit iffy about the trailer we watched on apple, but he LOVED the movie, as did i. easily the best movie i’ve seen in a long time. totally up our alley and susan m, i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. i had to cover my mouth to stifle my choking sobs. @@ seriously, everyone should go see it. we LOVED it!
thank you, kulturblog, for a date night gone right!
(we also saw the preview for “la misma luna,” which i’m excited to see!)
Comment by makakona — December 15, 2007 @ 3:42 am
Aw shucks makakona. We aim to please!
Comment by Supergenius — December 15, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Saw it this weekend. Great movie. Plenty of laughs. Wife cried–though not due to typical Hollywood manipulation. Just a very well-done movie.
Two thoughts:
Do teenagers really talk like that now? I’m old.
Was not prepared for creepy Jason Bateman.
Comment by Tim J — January 14, 2008 @ 10:29 am