Baby Blues? Not in this movie ...

Rating: 9/10 (29 February 2008)

"Juno" really is as smart and as sweet as all the hype, its Oscar and a slew of nominations says it is. I suppose you could say it's the teen chick flick that isn't, as Diablo Cody's sassy and grown-up script serves a series of one-liners that might just be beyond most teenagers, both in the audience and on the screen. Cody may be a former 'exotic dancer' and this may be her first script but don't feel inclined to pre-judge her as some sort of novelty act; brainless, she ain't. Most people by now will know it's the story of Juno, pregnant at sixteen from the opening frame, who decides not to have an abortion, (a moral choice but made on the flimsiest of motives), but gives the baby up for adoption instead, (again on the flimsiest of motives).
Again, if anything, the movie, however well-written, feels peculiarly like real life. The direction of Jason Reitman is unobtrusive; there are no 'big moments'. If, for the most part, people behave a little too nicely towards each other, their lives are no less messy for all that and the trajectory isn't necessarily conventional. And like the best independent films it doesn't fall into the trap of trying to please its audience and pull them in; it just does.
It is, of course, blessed with the performance of Ellen Page in the title role. This is a wonderfully focused performance, easy-going and natural; that it seems effortless may be down to the slack which Reitman has allowed her or simply to the quality of Cody's script but whatever, Page is a star in the ascendant. But then all the performances have a wonderful natural quality to them; even the most unsympathetic characters, the adoptive parents, bear the brunt of Cody's scrutiny. Let's hope her Oscar isn't the kiss of death as I certainly am looking forward to seeing what Diablo does next.