Engaging tale of a pregnant teenager and the choices she faces

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2008)

Engaging tale of a pregnant teenager and a married couple looking to adopt a child from her. This movie has a very "indie cinema" vibe to it. I really liked the quirky, sort of folk music this movie utilises, though I could understand some people finding this a turn off.
Juno is very much a 'star vehicle' for the charming Ellen Page. Page pretty much gets all the good lines to herself. This movie will stand or fall depending on whether you are open to the character of Juno.
To my mind, Juno shares DNA (metaphorically speaking) with characters such as Darlene from "Roseanne", which was a classic U.S. sit-com. Juno isn't as bleak as Darlene though. Another reference point for this film would be the delightful if short-lived U.S. comedy/drama series "Freaks and geeks". In fact, I was tempted to describe the character of "Juno" as a "freak" but thought better of it...until she uses the term to describe herself. For those of you not familiar with the caste system in the US, people fall into castes such as "jock" (a sport oriented person), "nerd" (an academically orientated person), "dork" (socially awkward) and, amongst others, "freak", meaning a person who doesn't really fit the 'desirable' caste category of "jock" or "cheerleader" (guys want to be jocks and girls want to be cheerleaders in the U.S. apparently).
As an Australian, I tend to view "freak" as meaning "normal"-people like Juno are infinitely more interesting to know and seem like people you would like to hang out with, as opposed to the more desirous castes, who seem really obnoxious.
A pleasure of this film is the interaction between Juno and prospective adoptive father Mark, played by Jason Bateman. Their conversations on the merits of movies/music is a highlight. Be warned, you do see a scene from a graphic horror movie for a few seconds.
Juno is impossibly witty and sensible-as if rewritten by a mature adult. I'd give this film 7/10 but suspect it will have repeat viewing value, hence the 8/10. In fact, as my reviews for this that years Oscar contenders shows, this movie would have been a worthy 'dark-horse' to take out the "Best Movie" Oscar. Not to be though.
Anyway, must say how cool Juno looked in that scene where she is sitting on a couch, with a smoking pipe in her mouth, Sherlock Holmes style. Impossibly cool!