Litte Miss Sunshine meets Garden State

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2008)

I *love* that shiny red ten-speed Juno rides through the scenic streets of Burnaby, British Columbia. Where do the prop people find gems like this? If you're into vintage bicycles, make sure you also check out Henry's blue beauty in "Fräulein Phyllis" and, of course, Dupree's ride in "You, Me And Dupree". But "Juno" has more to offer than its loving set design. Ellen Page and Jennifer Garner are amazing in the complementary parts of Juno, the reluctant teenage mother, and Vanessa, a thirty-something suburban WASP who can't expect to expect. The script, by first-time screenwriter and sometime stripper Diablo Cody, is both deadpan and deeply touching. Think of Juno as of a female and altogether more capable version of Jason Schwartzman's Max Fischer in "Rushmore". Juno's life is far from perfect, but her friends and relations form a circle of trust that helps her cope with the mixed emotions (and countless commonplace challenges) that come with teenage pregnancy. She has what may well be the coolest patchwork parents ever, a precocious cheerleader girlfriend holding her hand all the way through labor, and a nerdy on-again-off-again boyfriend who is there for her when it counts. All this is set to fabulous music, partly performed by the cast, and including "A Well-Respected Man" by the Kinks. Ray Davies, may he live forever.