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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Juno
By Craig Younkin Published December 29, 2007
US Release: December 5, 2007
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page , Michael Cera , Jennifer Garner , Jason Bateman
PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language
Running Time: 92 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $143,492,840
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page , Michael Cera , Jennifer Garner , Jason Bateman
PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language
Running Time: 92 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $143,492,840
B
Page is really terrific here, playing a really abrasive, immature child adapting to an adult situation. I wish the movie spent more time on the character's growth, but the movie is nice for what it is and features some good comedic supporting performances
They may be giving birth to bastards, but this year these women have managed to come across as nothing less than truly endearing people. One of the women of course is from "Knocked Up," while the other is a high school student named...."Juno." The movie is the creation of screenwriter Diablo Cody, whose wit and sweet natured story about learning to deal with life's tough choices may just make her into an indie-queen sensation.
Ellen Page is another key highlight here as the title character, a 16-year old who has sex with her dorky best friend (Michael Cera) and gets pregnant from it. Deciding not to go ahead with an abortion, she sees an ad in the paper for a couple (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner) looking to adopt and promises the baby to them. The wife is desperate to start a family of her own, but Juno finds herself spending more time with the husband, a commercial writer who still has hopes of fulfilling his dreams of playing in a rock band.
This movie is authentically indie, what with the underground garage band soundtrack and snarky, cynical characters who think they're smarter than every one else because they listen to music and watch movies that you've never heard of before. It's irritating and pretentious, even in the best of the indie-series, but every once in a while it can be forgiven if the movie really works, which is the case here. The best thing that both Cody and actress Ellen Page do here is make Juno a real 16-year old, someone so wrapped up in her own quirky world that grasping the gravity of a real-life situation is almost impossible. A scene I really liked a lot was when Juno meets the adoptive parents for the first time, choosing sarcasm to lighten up an otherwise serious meeting. Page is really terrific here, playing a really abrasive, immature child adapting to an adult situation for the very first time. I wish the movie spent more time on the character's growth and less time on conversations about what garage band or unknown horror director is better, but the movie is nice for what it is and features some good comedic supporting performances. J.K Simmons and Allison Janney come off the best, offering up hilarious one-line responses. "I didn't know he had it in him" they say, after finding out who the father of the baby is. Michael Cera is also very good as the shy, stammering boyfriend and Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner make for an interesting coupling.
Overall, "Juno" is not as great as many have said but it's a sweet and funny flick about being on the cusp of adult-hood, and it features a really fine, star-making performance from Ellen Page. It's worth seeing for her alone.
Ellen Page is another key highlight here as the title character, a 16-year old who has sex with her dorky best friend (Michael Cera) and gets pregnant from it. Deciding not to go ahead with an abortion, she sees an ad in the paper for a couple (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner) looking to adopt and promises the baby to them. The wife is desperate to start a family of her own, but Juno finds herself spending more time with the husband, a commercial writer who still has hopes of fulfilling his dreams of playing in a rock band.
This movie is authentically indie, what with the underground garage band soundtrack and snarky, cynical characters who think they're smarter than every one else because they listen to music and watch movies that you've never heard of before. It's irritating and pretentious, even in the best of the indie-series, but every once in a while it can be forgiven if the movie really works, which is the case here. The best thing that both Cody and actress Ellen Page do here is make Juno a real 16-year old, someone so wrapped up in her own quirky world that grasping the gravity of a real-life situation is almost impossible. A scene I really liked a lot was when Juno meets the adoptive parents for the first time, choosing sarcasm to lighten up an otherwise serious meeting. Page is really terrific here, playing a really abrasive, immature child adapting to an adult situation for the very first time. I wish the movie spent more time on the character's growth and less time on conversations about what garage band or unknown horror director is better, but the movie is nice for what it is and features some good comedic supporting performances. J.K Simmons and Allison Janney come off the best, offering up hilarious one-line responses. "I didn't know he had it in him" they say, after finding out who the father of the baby is. Michael Cera is also very good as the shy, stammering boyfriend and Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner make for an interesting coupling.
Overall, "Juno" is not as great as many have said but it's a sweet and funny flick about being on the cusp of adult-hood, and it features a really fine, star-making performance from Ellen Page. It's worth seeing for her alone.
Craig's Grade: B
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
