A short, unpretentious review

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2008)

I like IMDb for a lot of reasons, but mostly for these reviews. I like hearing what regular people think about movies as opposed to sifting through waves of arrogant critiques by overpaid movie critics. I think anyone reviewing a movie should be honest and upfront about what they liked, didn't like, etc. and just leave it at that. So that's what this is.
I had really high expectations for Juno. The trailer looked great and I'm a big fan of Michael Cera and of director Jason Reitman. Sometimes I get let down by a movie, but not this time. Juno is a fresh, honest look at an old subject - and one that's getting pretty popular these days - pregnancy. Diablo Cody's dialogue is sharp and clever while still staying true to her characters (especially the younger ones). This is one of the first movies I've seen in a while that captures the way kids in high school actually talk. That alone was enough to win me over.
The acting is close to perfect, highlighted by Ellen Page as the title character. Page is incredibly funny and really down to earth in her portrayal of a pregnant 16-year-old. She holds the movie together while being supported by solid performances from Jason Bateman, Allison Janney and Michael Cera among others.
The only knock against this movie is that it's kind of formulaic and sometimes comes dangerously close to corny, but Reitman steers the ship in unexpected (and successful) directions. Overall, Juno is a fun, sweet, clever film that should win some awards in the next few months.
More importantly, it should make any audience remember why they love movies. A good, well-written story with great acting and solid direction. 9/10