It's always a frightening experience to be sitting in a theater watching the first 15 minutes or so of a film you've been eagerly anticipating to discover that you aren't terribly impressed. Luckily, Jason Reitman's "Juno" gets past this initial stumbling block of worry, and instead treats us to a hip, quirky, hilarious, and surprisingly moving little gem of a movie. All of this year's "pregnancy movies" have resulted in the characters keeping their babies, however Juno is the first of them to not only explore the very notion of abortion, but also a very different way of solving the unwanted pregnancy. When 16 year old Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) becomes pregnant after a one night stand with her close friend Paulie Bleeker (Superbad's Michael Cera), she becomes unexpectedly pregnant. After contemplating abortion she soon decides to try another method, thanks to help from her goofy best friend Leah (Olivia Thirby): have the baby, and give it up for adoption to parents looking for children. Juno eventually finds the "perfect parents" in young yuppie couple Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) and begins to meet with them. I won't give away too much since there are one or two minor surprises...but let's just say Mark and Vanessa's marriage is starting to show some cracks, and they hope the baby can bring them together. Moving on, one thing that has been the subject of much debate is the nature of Diablo Cody's dialogue for her characters. Some have complained that it's "too hip" and unreal. However, upon watching the film, it is (thankfully) not just a series of spectacular one liners. They unusual and unusually sharp things that Juno (and in some ways, everyone) spouts off feel right for the character. While the dialogue may be sharpened just a bit (it is a movie after all) as a teenager I can honestly say that people very similar to Juno very much exist. And considering how likable Juno's acerbic wit is, this is surely a good thing. Juno is the only main character in the film, meaning that Ellen Page has to carry most of the movie, and she does it effortlessly. She is instantly likable with a wonderfully dry and deadpan line delivery that never becomes shtick. Page's performance is complimented superbly by the terrific supporting cast, especially Garner and Juno's parents played by JK Simmons and constant scene stealer Allison Janney. What's perhaps the most surprising about the movie though, is how it's not just cynical and hip, but instead has a very big heart. The final moments of the film leave behind the brilliantly executed comedy for something a bit more gentle that manages to feel authentic, touching, and sweet without ever becoming cloying.
Grade: A
Current Nominations: Best Picture (#4),Best Lead Actress - Ellen Page (#2),
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