Do not expect messages, try to enjoy details.

Rating: 8/10 (22 September 2008)

I read many of the comments here and saw that many people did not like the movie in terms of plot and message given. I actually liked the movie.
Firstly, I think one should not really mind much about the "message" given in movies such as this. This movie does not try to convey any message on "teenage sex" anyway. I think opposed to many comments written here, the movie does not encourage youngsters to have sex and get pregnant at 16. Most research show that movies do not really encourage people to imitate actions, such as violence, smoking cigarettes and so on. Together with many social factors, the TV series and movies might be a "factor" on penetration of such act but definitely is not a "cause".
Also, some have criticized that there is a scene in the movie where Juno's step mom argues with the ultrasound technician, saying that some teenagers may raise children much better than adults. Some said that the movie states this but does not offer any solution... As I said, the movie does not aim to "find any solution" or convey a "message" about teenagers getting pregnant, having abortion or raising children. There, Juno makes a controversial decision towards having the baby and thus reacts against people who degrade her action.
Secondly, I think the plot and characters were quite well established. Juno is a teenage, with rights and wrongs. Like most teenagers, she is in between being a child and a grown-up. She is still a child in most of her manners, though she proves herself that she has become an adult by having sex. Yes, because she is only a teenager and is not "perfect" she gets pregnant. And actually, because she is a little nuts and unexpectedly brave, she decides to give birth to the child (a normal person would have an abortion, right?). And because she is actually just a child, she naively spends time with Mark, not projecting the results. Mark has a childish soul and they get on very well but still they can't be "friends" as in teenage world, because Mark is an "adult" and adult men never see women as friends!!! Of course here Juno has an underlying tendency towards Mark (as she is not "perfect"), because in adults world he is the only person giving value to her. Also maybe she feels better being treated like a grown up by an adult. When she gets jealous of Paulie, she goes to him and feels better and appraised. But she then finds out this might lead to dangerous results!
However, she does right things too... She wants the child to grow up in a loving environment and leaves the child to Vanessa as she knows she will love her. After seeing that the "adult" life is not so perfect and she does not belong there yet, she finally understands that her own world and Paulie is where she belongs, because she is yet just a child.
In terms of music, I liked the movie. I especially like the Belle and Sebastian, which was used in the movie. Music was neatly chosen. Also, without such music, the movie would be more serious and dramatic. What makes the movie easy watchable and light is the music.
In terms of Juno's language Well, I am not a native English speaker. So, I cannot truly judge whether it makes sense of her speaking like that or not. But as far as I know, teenagers love to speak slang language, using many connector meaningless words and have their own kind of talking terms. Because they always criticize the adults but want to be valued by them (because they think they are adults too and should not be ruled by them), they usually use an awkward language. In these terms, I think the movie reflects the irony quite well, especially in the scene where Juno first meets with the child adopter family and their lawyer.
In general, I think Juno is a well written and directed movie. Do not expect messages, try to enjoy the details.