Juno Review
by Adam Frazier
|
Cinematically
speaking, I have completely fallen for a certain pregnant 16-year-old
girl with a smart mouth and an even smarter wit. Yes, I have a crush on
Juno - the heroine of this year’s brightest and funniest film.
Before we get into the plot, let me jut say that Juno has all the elements needed for a triumphant, remarkable film. It’s smart, witty, and incredibly engaging.
Director Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking)
and newcomer Diablo Cody have made a film with such huge heart, I can
see the clever dialogue bouncing off the page with big cartoon hearts
floating about – and badly drawn arrows tearing through them.
Ellen
Page plays Juno MacGuff, a tiny spitfire with a wisecrack for every
situation. She’s a quirky hipster with a taste for music before her
time and a love for Italian horror films. “It started with a chair,”
our heroine says in the opening scenes. Following an evening of
experimentation with part-time lover and full-time friend Paulie
Bleeker (the always incredible Michael Cera), brave little Juno finds
out that she is pregnant.
Bleeker isn’t quite the Casanova you
might have him pegged as. As a member of the school’s track tream,
Paulie is constantly covered in sweatbands and extremely undersized
running shorts. He’s got a strange obsession with orange Tic-Tacs that
only add to his overall eccentricity. In other words – he’s perfect for
Juno.
At first, Juno considers an abortion, but catches a nasty
vibe at the clinic she visits. After revealing the truth to her
supportive blue-collar father (J.K. Simmons) and stepmother (Allison
Janney), Juno goes to the "Desperately Seeking Spawn" section of the
penny saver in search of a good couple for her unborn bastard.
Who
else would she find but Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark (Jason
Bateman) who are the definition of Mr. and Mrs. Peachy Keen. They’re
ready to adopt and everything seems to be working out perfectly for
Juno and the prospective parents of her child. The problem is, Mark
(Bateman) is having doubts about his ability to be a good father and
his decisions could bring everything to an earth-shattering hault.
Juno
isn’t one of those non-stop absurd comedies that sacrifice story and
character for potential gags. No, Diablo Cody’s script is funny in a
sassy, quick-witted way. It’s the kind of humor that causes a lot of
smiles and endearing glances toward the silver screen.
The
performances in this picture are entirely off the scale. Ellen Page
delivers a breakthrough performance as edgy, yet lovable, Juno. Then
there’s Michael Cera who is so awkward at times it makes me feel as
though I’ve impregnated someone without knowing it. J.K. Simmons and
Allison Janney are perfect as the parents and nothing bad can be said
about Garner and Bateman’s role as would-be super-parents. Bateman’s
character of the unsure father is so completely human and genuine that
at times I find myself having a hard time believing it’s simply a
character and not a real person.
There is no wasted dialogue in Juno.
Every line is worth listening to and enjoying for its own subtle
charms. The script is polished beyond perfection. I’m not sure if I can
find a flaw in it’s simplistic, yet endearing story arc. This is the
kind of film where I have to find a reason not to like it. I’m
literally nitpicking every scene for grounds to not give this film a
perfect score.
Juno
might just be the best film of 2007. It is an emotional rollercoaster
that treats the audience to a belly-full of laughter as well as some
tear-filled eyes. Outstanding.
5 out
of 5 Juno
Australian release: 17th January, 2008
Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Olivia Thirlby, J.K Simmons, Rainn Wilson
Director: Jason Reitman
Website: Click
here.
| 
