Preggers Can't Be Choosers

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2013)

If I could only rate this movie 5/5 stars on the soundtrack alone, I would. But, not only would that be inconsiderate to all else that went into making Juno an instant classic, it would cause people to only go out and buy the album vs. watching such a fantastic film.
Admittedly, I only saw this movie once, when trying to catch up on all the Best Picture nominees from 2007. I loved it, absolutely, but never got around to viewing it again until last night. AndI had previously purchased it on BluRay months ago!
I loved it just as much now as I did back then. The writing, from soon-to-be mediocre Diablo Cody, was excellent for this project. The normal dialect from teens would normally turn me off – and would get worse as Facebook grew in popularity, but I absolutely adored it here. This is all due to the once in a lifetime, perfect performance by Ellen Page as the title character.
She was so great, so real, so believable, she doesn't just carry the child, er, movie, she keeps us highly entertained even when a lot of other great filmmaking techniques and performances might go unnoticed from beginning to end.
Best high school buds, Juno and Paulie (the always wonderful, Michael Cera) "decide" to have sex one night and in "a chair that started it all." Lo, behold, she's now with child and after an abortion debate within herself, she decides on making a obviously unhappy couple happy again. But, will a child complete the Pennysaver advertising's couple's family? Will Juno find who she's always been searching for? Will she ever light that pipe she incessantly sucking on, even though she's pregnant?
The supporting cast is excellent – including great scenes with the always wonderful J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney and (definitely not the normal role for) Jason Bateman. The score is good, the cinematography is surprisingly great and, as mentioned, the soundtrack that started the movie with a bang, is absolutely and breathtakingly marvelous.
While still giving the enormously hilarious movie 5/5 stars, I'm surprised on how toned down Cera was in this. As a big fan of his, and how he normally steals every scene he's involved in and usually has the best dialogue, it was amazing on how reserved he was in this while letting Page command the screen. Probably that was the intention, but it was freaky not seeing Cera dominate the screen.
Nevertheless, coming from a fan of just a handful of teen-related movies, such as Clueless, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Election and, of course, the John Hughes collection, I add this almost masterpiece of a teen angst film to the list. It was so real, so involving and so funny, I can't wait to finally see it a third time.
Now, you must buy this movie and following its closing credits, search and purchase the soundtrack. If you loved the movie, you should already have a crush on the music.