My thoughts on Juno

Rating: 10/10 (13 October 2008)

Its not often a movie zooms into my top 5 after just two viewings, but then its not often a film like Juno comes along.
The logical place to start would be Ellen Page. I can imagine some would find her performance somewhat smug and overly self-assured. But for me, she nails down the expectations of this razor sharp script in an effortless way. A brilliantly confident and hilarious lead as Juno, I found myself rooting from her right from the off whilst the whole time knowing things would work out in her favour.
The supporting cast is faultless. I've long been an Arrested Development worshipper, and Michael Cera and Jason Bateman bring all their finest qualities from the Bluth roles to their characters here. Despite his young age and apparent typecasting, Cera is the king of understated heroism. He has stolen just about every scene of his career so far and none so much as Paulie Bleeker. Bateman as Mark Loring is everything you wanted Michael Bluth to be; living out the dreams and ideals instead of simply fulfilling the family expectations in exchange for a peaceful life. Its almost enough to make me give Teen Wolf II another go. Almost.
I vaguely recognised JK Simmons, but had seen little of Jennifer Garner and Alison Janney prior to this. Which makes it difficult for me to label this the 'performance of their careers', but I'll blindly do it anyway. Simmons I'd always pictured as a bad guy, but his turn here as Mac was one of the most endearing paternal portrayals I can remember. Quite touching, and award-worthy. His scene with Juno as she realises her love for Paulie was beautiful. Garner's shopping mall monologue to the 'bump' and Janney springing to life as she lays into the ultrasound technician are other examples of actors right on top of their game.
The setting is perfect. I've never been to America, but this Fargo-esquire Minnesota backdrop is what I picture every time. The kids are cool, but not too cool; the families are functional, but not too functional. The symbolism of the seasons and the underlying theme of the high school runners allay perfectly into my totally-unfounded-and-unresearched ideology of Minnesotan life... just carrying on, whatever the drama inbetween. No time for politics or grander social issues here. The film has drawn controversy for its apparent pro-life theme but I see it as merely a story-telling mechanism rather than any kind of social statement. My one concern throughout was Juno's lack of self-realisation about the obvious emotion such a predicament would bring, and it was a relief to see it all come pouring out towards the end as she laid crying on the hospital bed.
This film is the ultimate compromise between funny, bittersweet and cool. The music is sublime throughout. The pace and length are perfect. The characters are just the right distance into leftfield from what you'd expect them to be. The ending is happy without being horribly predictable.
For me, and my own peculiar tastes, I can't fault it. Ten out of ten.