Acerbic dialogue balanced with poignancy

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2007)

I don't think I've immediately loved a movie more than Juno.
This film was perfectly cast, perfectly paced, had the perfect amount of cynical language while still being balanced with enough poignancy and heart to make it believable and relatable.
It's so easy to say that Ellen Page is the stand-out star in Juno, being the eponymous role. I agree that her portrayal of the whip-smart, maturing 16 year old was excellent. However, the art of the film was really in the collaboration of all the actors. Everyone hit the right note. I would say that most surprising was Jennifer Garner's performance. This is not because I don't usually like her (I usually appreciate her presence in films), but she turned what could have been a caricature of a WASPy, barren career woman and made it genuinely heart-breaking. Her husband Jason Bateman portrayed the character of a sell-out would-be rock musician stuck in an unfulfilling, but lucrative job. J.K Simmons and Alison Janney were perfect as Juno's father and stepmother. They were caring without being cloying... but also sarcastic without seeming like they were making light of the situation. Michael Cera was great in his role, he seems to have nailed the role of the awkward, but sweet teenager; he knows what he's good at and sticks to it. The only really superfluous character was Juno's best friend Olivia Thirlby. I don't like how she was written, but she still provided much needed support to Juno.
Diablo Cody starts the film by trying to fit in as many quips and references as possible. This would usually be annoying, but since it was delivered so believably and naturally by the characters, it made sense. It is made even more bearable once we are drawn into the heart of the film. You really invest yourself in these characters and each of their individual positions. Jason Reitman did a nice job in his light-handed direction. He seemed to let the characters come to life by the actors' own abilities.
I went in to see the film with very high expectations and really, it went above and beyond all of them. If you can forgive the first 15 minutes of the film trying to find its pace, then I highly suggest this entertaining film. I want to make everyone see it.