Don't waste your time

Rating: 3/10 (1 November 2008)

This wasn't worth watching, and I had that feeling after I saw a trailer for it while I was in the cinema waiting for "Atonement" (that film should not be mentioned on the same page as this one). I got it out from my Uni library, so at least it didn't cost me money. It's not all bad, Jennifer Garner's performance as the woman desperate for a child is very touching, but the rest of the film is so obnoxious and pretentious that I just want to kick it.
For starters, how is Juno a "whip-smart" teen as the fawning movie critics had it? OK, she has a hamburger phone and listens to indie music. Wow, so original. She certainly wasn't smart enough to use protection during sex, so how could she possibly be surprised to find herself pregnant? It's not Ellen Page's fault, she is quite good in the role, but the terrible writing. Then again, what can you expect when it's written by a former stripper who re-named herself "Diablo Cody"?
The "teen-speak" dialogue that was much talked about on release is just rubbish writing. No-one in the role world speaks or acts like the characters presented here, save the adoptive parents. The whole thing just left a foul taste in my mouth. Juno has the baby, gives it up, and then happily goes back to strumming her guitar like nothing happened? Is that growing up and facing life's problems?
In short, no. And that's what the theme of the film wanted to be about, and it miserably failed. I'm not usually so negative in my comments but I just can't believe how adored this film was by the critics, and Miss Cody got an Oscar for writing? Best Original Screenplay? The same Award that Casablanca won in 1942? Huh?