JUNO

A teenager finds herself knocked up at the sweet age of 16 in the comedy JUNO. Juno, played by Ellen Page, is the aforementioned teenager, a smart, cute and independent-minded girl who lets the heat of the moment get the best of her. After attending an abortion clinic, and electing to go through with the pregnancy, Juno decides to find two worthy parents to adopt her unborn child.

Some movies operate in their own world, and seem too far removed from reality. JUNO operates in its own world, but contains an immense amount of humor, compassion and cleverness, that in spite of its eccentricities, works on a basic human level. The personality of the picture is manifested in the film’s dialogue, which develops Juno’s world perfectly. As SWINGERS had it’s own original dialogue for 20-somethings in Hollywood, and GOODFELLAS for Brooklyn gangsters, JUNO finds the right wordplay for smart, silly and sassy 16-year old girls. Screenwriter Diablo Cody deserves all the credit for writing the lines, but Page deserves all the credit for making them sound natural, and equally hilarious. Page left a lasting impression in the flawed HARD CANDY, and she does so again as Juno. Her supporting cast is terrific as well. Michael Cera is type cast well as her part-time lover and full time friend, JK Simmons makes an ideal dad and Olivia Thirlby deserves credit for bouncing off Cody’s zingers as Juno’s buddy. Not to be forgotten is director Jason Reitman, who manages to find just the right beat between the films performers, the script and the low-key, but catchy independent songs that connect with the characters emotions. JUNO is an original, funny and smart teenage comedy that is one of 2007’s best films.

Grade: A