Honest to blog! This coming to age story was pretty adorable for the most part. Still, it did had some few faults.

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2016)

The increasing popularity and feasibility of low-budget films over the last 15 years has led to a vast increase in the number of aspiring filmmakers. These are people who have written scripts and who hope to find several million dollars to turn that script into a successful independent film. One of those success stories, is from the writer of 'Juno'. Written by ex-stripper, Diablo Coby, 'Juno' tells the story of a sixteen-year-old Minnesota high-schooler Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) who discovers she is pregnant by her friend and longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). Fearing abortion, Juno instead, seek to find a family for her unborn child for them to raise. It's here, where she meets the couple of Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) & Mark Loring (Jason Bateman), who seems like the right people to give her baby up for adoption. However, things started to unravel with the couple, causing Juno to re-examine the relationships in her own life, and wonder if any kind of love can really last a lifetime. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while the "Teen Pregnancy" angle has been done to death in films, way before this movie came out; this movie was one of the very first films to deliver the 'teen pregnancy' concept in a mature, but meaningful comedy way. Even if foreign movies like Korean films like 2005's 'Jenny, Juno' somewhat did it first. While, this movie wasn't groundbreaking in any means, it still had a quirky story was unique enough to stand out for its calmer, yet gender tone. It's not a film that, that makes teen pregnancy seem like the end all of end all. I guess, the movie knows teenagers are going through a lot, so it doesn't make them, feel even worst about themselves. It really could had been worst, like how they portray these events in 1998's TV Movie 'Fifteen and Pregnant' that comes across, as too preachy, depressing and unpleasant. I like that the parents played by Allison Janney & J.K Simmons. They are the best things about this movie. They weren't over-the-top harsh, and controlling with Juno. They had the right amount of discipline and care for parents dealing with a problem like this. It's nice is to see a cool-headed approach. However, I can't say, the same with Jennifer Gardner and Jason Bateman's characters. I really found their scenes with Juno, way too awkward and creepy. Yes, I know, they were written that way, but I really didn't like the whole 'molesting' angle. This dark subplot really didn't fit with the sunny-side tone of the rest of the film. That scene ain't Etch A Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet. I'm still having nightmares about those scenes. Another character, I really didn't like, is Paulie Bleeker. Michael Cera is pretty much, playing himself with this role. He wasn't really that memorable, nor likable. Even Ellen Page as Juno could be a bit annoying at times. Don't get me wrong, Juno does have some really good funny or mature moments, mostly with her parents, but the highly gimmicky and awkwardly dialogue that Diablo Coby wrote for her character and her friend, Leah (Olivia Thirby), can be a bit much for me. I found their silly dialogue, bit unrealistic at times. It was too quirky at times. Plus, some of the slang that Coby use, is somewhat dated, even for 2007. Another problem with screenplay is the fact, that Diablo Cody indicates that the film was meant to be neutral on the subject of pro-choice and pro-life. Yet, it seems to lean to one way. While, I have no problem with its pro-life approach. After all, Juno's namesake is the Roman goddess of, among other things, fertility and childbirth. The protagonist even says that she was named after the goddess. Plus, the fact, that, we wouldn't have a film without Juno's pro-life choice. Still, I want to believe that people should had a choice if they want to a child or not. Anyways, I still think, Coby deserve the best original screenplay award at the Oscars that year, despite my personal beliefs. Another thing, the film could had done, better, is make it seem like Juno was honestly pregnant. Her mother bump did look a bit fake at times. Still, I have to say, director Jason Reitman and his crew did filmed the movie, very well, despite that little nitpick. For the most part, the film was very bright and vibrant. I kinda dig the Wes Andersen's style, Juno title sequence. It stood out, because it transforms real sequences into a sort of cartoon. Names and texts are hand-drawn and are mixed up into the sequence. Background loses its depth and becomes flat. The final effect is really cute, even if a bit out of place! I love the creativity of this sequence. I also like the music that went along with this film. The film's soundtrack, featuring several songs performed by Kimya Dawson in various guises was also amazing. My favorite song is the Moldy Peaches version of "Anyone Else but You". It match the visuals so well. Also, it really did sum up what I thought of 2007 independent filmmaking. While, this movie was one of three films in 2007, that had a plot that dealt with a woman face unplanned pregnancy. It's by far, one of the better films; even with the ambiguous odd ending and the fact, Juno somewhat shows disrespect to her elders. I suggest others to watch this movie. So call your friends on your hamburger-shaped phones, and pull up a chair, and check this movie out. Also check out, 2016's 'Tallulah', with a similar plot and some of the same actors. You will like it.