Slightly over-hyped, decent but run of the mill dark comedy

Rating: 7/10 (23 January 2008)

Juno is perfectly entertaining, decently made, there is nothing essentially wrong with Juno. The only issue is that there is nothing essentially outstanding about Juno either. People are raving about how different and dark and well performed and hilarious...and none of that is wrong per se except that it's not THAT different, dark or well performed. It's average. It's a decent comedy, not much more main stream than Knocked Up, Superbad or other comparable raunch comedies. Now Juno is the receiver of several Academy Award nominations including two big ones...best picture and best Actress and I'm just not sure that it is any more deserving than comedies we've seen that people would laugh off at the thought of receiving Academy nominations. But I am not trying to trash the film because it is entertaining and worth seeing and tackles teen pregnancy head on without taboo's or restrictions which is bringing it a certain amount of controversy and arguments. I don't believe the film is promoting teen pregnancy AT ALL or even poking fun of it or making light of it. Rather I think its saying that this happens...it has happened to this young girl and this is how she deals and copes. This is a reality, it does happen and at best a pregnant teenage girl might see this and think...this doesn't end my life...I have options.
Academy Award nominee (as of today) Ellen Page stars as the incomparable and unmatchable Juno. Page is electric and has amazing on screen charisma and really does make the film what it is. She has terrific comedic timing and her sarcasm is unmatched...Oscar worthy...not sure about that. The supporting cast is truly exactly that because the film is entirely about her. Michael Cera, coming off his Superbad success, is Juno's to good to be true, young naive love interest and father to her baby. Cera is perfect in the role and plays it well and they have good chemistry together although he doesn't have a huge role. Jennifer Garner is good but overly sweet in the role as the potential adoptive mother of Juno's baby. She does however relay the perfect mix of anticipation and fear. Jason Bateman plays Garner's husband and I don't know if he was good at it or not. If the goal was to come across as sleazy and creepy then he nailed it but every scene he was in you just expected something huge to come out about him and it never really happens. I'm not sure he was right for this part. Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons are absolutely terrific in their small roles as Juno's parents. They really do a great job, add some humor and some concern to the situation and they really steal their scenes together.
My girlfriend made a good point about this film. It felt like you kept waiting for this major climax, like everything was building to something but it never really comes. She gets pregnant, she weighs her options, she has it, she goes back to being a kid again...and that's about it. That makes for a decent story...sure...and it is funny and cute and Paige is terrific but it's NOT the movie of the year nor is it as outstanding as some seem to think it is. I believe that it's average plain and simple. It showcases some future potential talent and probably more adults find it amusing than teenagers or kids but I don't think it quite deserves the hype or nominations that it's receiving. Young director Jason Reitman just stumbled onto this and while he does a decent job telling the story I don't think he has the experience or extreme talent that everyone raves about. I don't want to deter anyone from seeing Juno because it is a lot of fun and you will enjoy it but don't expect the best film of the year by a long shot. 7.5/10
**************** NOTE
Yesterday on Tuesday January 22/2008 star of big screen hits Heath Ledger passed away in his home. I just want to wish his family, his daughter, and Michelle Williams and all his friends my deepest sympathy and I always believed he was destined to be a big star. I will most certainly miss his work.