Juno

Year of Release: 2007
Genre: Teen / Comedy
Rating: PG-13 for mature themes, sexual content & language.
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Rainn Wilson

Date Of Review: February 2008

From the film’s flickering opening frames of a lounge chair, now posing as discarded lawn furniture, right through to the film’s guitar duet epilogue you know that this isn’t traditional Hollywood filmmaking. “Juno” is an art-house film that has somehow slipped in mainstream cinemas. Seriously, it’s like a student film with a slightly bigger budget. What it does have, however, is an extremely engaging script and a performance at its centre from a young actress named Ellen Page ("Hard Candy"). It is this performance that gravitates everything towards magnificent. During the film’s opening 10 minutes or so, I was almost squirming in my seat, not through my own discomfort but maybe it was the vibe I was getting from others in attendance. With its offbeat approach and intriguing folk songs, for some reason, I was wondering what the people around me were thinking. Comments I heard during the pre-movie trailers ranged from, “that looks like a TV movie” to “I will wait for the DVD”, who knows what they were thinking once the feature, “Juno” kicked in. I viewed this one in a multiplex during a peak Christmas Holiday period. Lots of teenage kids were present including some mothers, grandmothers, even a few packs of 15 year old boys, who I suspect were probably thinking that they would be viewing a broader-cruder-comedy like “Superbad”, with Michael Cera plastered on the poster.

Like a bittersweet kiss from heaven (or should I say the Greek Gods, hence the title “Juno”) never has a film about teen pregnancy been so quirky, unique and tender. Like last year’s “Knocked Up”, here is a comedic tale about pregnancy that weaves its web gradually and explores the central characters diatribes on bringing new life into the world.  The film sneaks up on you, as you continue to watch it and you begin to feel for and empathize with these characters. 16 year old Juno has to confront an unwanted pregnancy, concerned parents, clueless friends and whether or not she should put the baby up for adoption. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play a young couple who want to adopt the child when it is born. It’s Juno’s relationship with this married couple that takes the film into thought-provoking, well written scenarios. It is certainly the most original film about teenage pregnancy that you are ever likely to see. Set in present day, the intriguing folk songs, the offbeat dialogue and some of the fashions make it seem almost as if the film was from another era. The music suits the look and tone of the film so well it made me think of “The Graduate”; in the same way the Simon and Garfunkel score elevated that experience.

“Juno” is so full of social commentary, jokes and satirizing but amazingly never steps into self-parody. There is a certain reality to these characters and their way of life. If I was to get slightly nitpicky it would be that all the characters seem to have the same social commentary or bound by the same outlook on life.  The script was written by a female, Diablo Cody, it was her first film and she has certainly put her stamp on it. I am sure if she continues to write, she will no doubt create many more unique female characters for future films. As I left the theater I looked around at some of the faces, most of the female teens had bewildered looks, one girl had a few tears, most looked slightly concerned by the experience, I am sure it left them thinking.  Many of the females, I think, must have connected with the character. The teenage boys in attendance, well let’s hope it made them think a little bit, I am sure it wasn’t what they expected. “Juno” has more intelligence than many of the teen comedies in recent years. Actress Ellen page has emerged from this film as a star and with a well deserved Oscar nomination. “Juno” is a slightly left-of-centre gem that will resonate with the more demanding film-going audience.

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