Juno

January 1, 2008 /

Part of my birthday celebration was that when I wanted to go to a movie, Ted and Maya were game, and I got to pick what movie we would see. (And Ted paid our way…Thanks, Ted!) I picked Juno, a quirky movie I’ve been hearing good things about.

Juno is the story of a 16-year old girl who for some reason decides to have sex with her best friend, and finds herself pregnant. You’re never sure exactly sure why they do it…was she curious what the whole sex thing was about? Bored? Trying to diffuse tension? He’s clearly in love with her, but she doesn’t appear to be in love with him, so you’re just not sure what the reason for the first coupling might be.

We come in after the fact, when she first finds out that she’s pregnant. She decides that she’s too young to be a good mother, and wants to go procure a quick abortion, but when she goes to the clinic, she can’t quite bring herself to go through with it.

Next option…to find a couple who will adopt the child and give it a good home. Where to look? Why, the Penny Saver of course! (I’m going to have to look more closely at that next time I get a copy!) From there, it’s a journey of self discovery, as Juno learns that her actions and emotions affect others than just herself, and she becomes a bit less detached and flippant.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this film is Oscar worthy. The screenplay is smart and clever at the same time, and avoids so many of the stock situations that might come up (parents wanting to kill the boy who got her pregnant, boy wanting to know if she’s sure it’s his baby, etc…all valid responses, I guess, but been there, done that in the film world). Ellen Page, as Juno, is amazing. She plays the flippant Juno, and while she plays it cool and wants so much to just have this whole thing over and done with and behind her, you can see the emotional toll it is taking on her, and it’s all just simmering below the surface in her every decision and expression.

The rest of the cast is equally great. Michael Cera is her friend, Paulie, who gets her pregnant. He’s heartbreakingly open in his feelings for her, and yet, completely willing to go along with whatever it is she wants. All while not being a doormat, like, say, Duckie, from Pretty in Pink. Allison Janney is her whip-smart step mom, and J.K. Simmons is her dad, who’s trying his best to teach her about relationships and growing up in the world.

The would be adoptive parents are played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. Jennifer Garner’s character is a woman who has been trying to have a child for the past 5 years, and has a lot of pent up energy. This comes across in her beyond perfect house, where dust wouldn’t dare to settle, and at first I was worried that a child might in fact be a problem in the household. Jason Bateman’s character is the would-be father, who hasn’t yet given up his dreams of becoming a rock star, and is afraid that having a child might indeed be the end of his dreams. They both did wonderful jobs of making their characters sympathetic, and you feel deeply for both of their fears and wounds.

But the movie belongs to Page, as Juno, and to the wonderful script, which dares to think we might be smart enough to get what is going on without being hit over the head with things.

16 Comments

  • Kvetch

    January 1, 2008 at 7:15 am

    “dares to think we might be smart enough to get what is going on without being hit over the head with things”

    I love this line! As a writer, my most surprising advice from a trusted writer-friend was to “give my reader credit” and “not spell everything out.”

    When you said that is exactly what this movie did – and that you appreciated it, it drove the point home even moreso.

    Thanks for the movie review and the insight!

  • C

    January 1, 2008 at 9:43 am

    Wow! I think I’ll check out that movie sometime. Thanks for the review and your thoughts!

    Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!

    P.S. I’ve tagged you for a little “Challenge”. Let me know if you decide to do it! xo

  • kookiejar

    January 1, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Although this wasn’t one of my favorite movies, I did laugh a lot and I thought Michael Cera and JK Simmons in particular were outstanding. I’m glad I went to see it, and I really happy that you enjoyed it so much. Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday!

  • Py Korry

    January 1, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    I think this will get nominations in a number of categories. I had heard the buzz surrounding this film, but I was surprised how good it was.

  • Beenzzz

    January 1, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    I’ve heard good things as well. I definitely want to see this one. I remember Michael Cera from “Superbad.” That was an….interesting movie.

  • Cherry

    January 1, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    I must tell you that I didn’t read your post, in detail at least, because I so want to see this movie and I have been avoiding commercials and trailers and reading anything about it. Which brings me to an odd predicament… I didn’t realize it was out! Oops!

    I guess I’ll be dragging Eric to yet another movie this weekend, although if Ted thought it was good, then maybe Eric won’t dis it immediately. He kept poo pooing ‘Waitress’, even though I said you both enjoyed it… and then he watched it and loved it. So he should know better then poo-poo a movie I say you both liked.

  • Gina

    January 1, 2008 at 10:19 pm

    I love Michael Cera from when he was in “Arrested Development” and think he is a fine young actor. I too have heard great things about this movie, glad to see them confirmed.

    Happy New Year!

  • amuirin

    January 3, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    oh, good. Srry, I tried to comment on some of the older posts I was catching up on, and after typing and hitting submit, it was saying ‘comments closed’.

    This movie looked good in the ads, and I was truly curious how they handled the situations of teen pregnancy which can be an explosive issue. Thanks for the review.

  • lalunas

    January 5, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Chee wants to see this movie badly, but yesterday given the choice I went to see Atonement. Oh what a wonderful movie. Chee and most everyone in the audience had tears in their eyes. It was a emotionally charged movie. So next time we will see Juno…