Monday, February 18, 2008

Juno

By Grace Lapointe

Teenage pregnancy may seem like a strange subject for an independent comedy, but Juno succeeds because it tells the story of an unconventional teenage girl. Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is an intelligent, sarcastic sixteen-year-old girl who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Juno initially considers an abortion, but then decides against it. With the help of her loyal friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby), Juno decides to go through with the pregnancy and give the baby up for adoption to Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), a young couple desperately seeking a child. Bateman (Arrested Development) and Garner (Alias; Daredevil) skillfully convey the growing tensions between the Lorings. The film follows Juno through the ups and downs of her pregnancy, which makes her an outcast at her high school. (“They call me the cautionary whale,” Juno quips.)


Directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking) and written by first-time scriptwriter Diablo Cody, Juno defies typical Hollywood conventions. Unlike other movies dealing with the same topic, Juno does not romanticize teen pregnancy or make it seem hopelessly catastrophic. The script is full of witty dialogue, and the unique characters are brought to life through the actors’ strong performances. Through the role of Juno, Ellen Page (X-Men) showcases her remarkable acting talents. She captures the full range of Juno’s emotions, from her snarky wit to her insecurities. Michael Cera (Superbad) is likably awkward as Paulie Bleeker, Juno’s sometime boyfriend and the father of her baby. J. K. Simmons (Oz; Spider-man) and Allison Janney (The West Wing) play Juno’s supportive dad and stepmom. The film uses songs from artists including The Kinks, Cat Power, and Belle & Sebastian, which perfectly complement specific scenes. Juno is a truly original, entertaining movie that manages to balance wry humor and poignancy. It has been nominated for multiple awards, including three Golden Globes, and Academy Awards in four categories: best director, best picture, best leading actress, and best original screenplay.