Weak Dialogue, Overcooked Performance from Page

Rating: 2/10 (4 May 2008)

For all of its arm-waving, panting dialogue, and (mildly) controversial subject-matter, the adjective that springs to mind is "forgettable." First of all, Ellen Page, in full Janeane Garofalo mode, is not terribly likable in the title role. The pixie-haired angel of death from "Hard Candy" was an easier sell for an actress of Page's physical type and emotional brittleness. She tries to compensate for this with over-delivery of lines, and exaggerated facial expressions.
But before too much of the fault is laid on Page, the awfulness of the dialogue must be admitted. It pleads, rolls around on the floor, and kicks its heels for attention, and worse than this, it becomes fairly predictable about fifteen minutes in. At about the halfway mark, I found myself guessing the punchlines to jokes before the actors could deliver them. Case in point; when the pregnant Juno first meets prospective adopters Bateman and Garner, and is offered a drink, I actually said aloud, "She's going to ask for alcohol." Of course, Juno asks for a Maker's Mark. But in a cute-fest of PG-13 proportions, of course, she immediately corrects herself to a juice (or maybe a soda).
In sum, then, the dialogue is the principal undoing of this film -- no amount of decent acting (which is not entirely absent) can save it. Honorable mentions, therefore, for Alison Janney and J.K. Simmons in largely thankless and under-written roles as Juno's parents. Justin Bateman, usually a sly comic actor, here seems unable to find the via media between harmless unction and dangerous sleaziness. Jennifer Garner phones her performance in, and to be honest, probably not much more could be expected of someone like her.
Michael Cera, out-hammed by Page in every scene he appears, may or may not be good. It's impossible to tell.