The script is not as bad as everyone seems to think . . .

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2008)

I can't praise "Juno" any more eloquently than its myriad supporters have already done, so instead I will try to counter some of the criticisms of the script that have arisen. By providing a direct counterpoint to some of that negative criticism, I hope to expose prospective viewers to both sides of the script argument, and, hopefully, allow them to watch the film objectively, without any preconceived opinions.
The script by Diablo Cody has a tendency to rub people the wrong way due to the frequent cultural references and general extravagance of the dialogue. Because of these factors, a common complaint is that the dialogue sounds contrived--an argument I feel is only valid for the first fifteen minutes of the film, after which I felt the dialogue became very fluid and natural. For example, in an early scene, Juno rebukes the cashier by saying, "Silencio, old man!" This sounds contrived and forced; she is aware that she isn't speaking like a normal person. Later on, however, when she is angry at Mark, she doesn't say "Silencio, old man!" or anything remotely similar. She says, "You guys are supposed to take care of this . . . I want things to be perfect."
This transition from forced cleverness to genuine humanity is so gradual I had to watch the film a few times before realizing that it is very much intentional. Watching the film is like meeting Juno herself for the first time--a little jarring and uncomfortable at first, but as she gradually lets down her smart-mouthed facade, you grow to love the person inside.