Remember Knocked Up? Geek meets girl. Geek sleeps with girl. Out pops baby. Well, Juno is more of the same… except all the parent’s to be are highschoolers. Usually, I wouldn’t be interested by something as mundane and Oprahesque as a drama comedy about unplanned teenage pregnancy. However, Jason Reitman’s directing and Ellen Page’s quirky performance make this one of the most memorable movies of last year.

Synpopsis

Directed by Jason Reitman
Produced by John Malkovich
Written by Diablo Cody
Starring Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner, Michael Cera and Jason Bateman
Music by Mateo Messina

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) jumps her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) and finds out she’s pregnant nine weeks later. After considering (and chickening out of) an abortion she looks at the alternative of placing her unborn child for adoption. After finding a listing in the local Pennysaver Juno contacts Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Batemen and Jennifer Garner) and agrees to give them her baby. For a more detailed synopsis please read this.

The Cast

The acting in this film is what makes it work. Page delivers a quirky and memorable performance as Juno, and J. K. Simmons gives us an insight into Juno’s quirkiness in his portrayal of her father. This film is full of believable and memorable characters which is what makes it work.

In Conclusion

I’m going to wrap this up a little early because, quite frankly, I can’t think of anything more to say. Part of the reason for this is the fact that this film is nominated for a Best Film Oscar, and I don’t think it’s quite there. Against a Dude, Where’s My Car or a Date Movie Juno would win hands down. But against films such as No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood… well Juno isn’t really that good. I would much rather have seen something like The Assassination of Jesse James or Away From Her.

Bottom line: Juno is fun colorful and upbeat. A real Oprah movie, if it weren’t for all the teen sex and pregnancy. But, not quite as good as it’s hyped up to be.