Comic perfection; Page is excellent; cast is a wonder and Diablo Cody a frickin' genius!

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2008)

JUNO (2007) **** Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby, Rainn Wilson. Wonderfully acerbic comedy about the titular teen (Page in a star-making tour-de-force comic role), who finds herself pregnant by her sort-of-boyfriend Cera (perfecting awkward into an art form), and deciding to give it up for adoption, possibly to a too-good-to-believe yuppie couple (Garner and Bateman equally deserving huzzahs). A sharp, tart, and smart screenplay by novice wunderkind Diablo Cody and directed with wily brilliance by Jason Reitman, creating a warm, devastatingly funny and surprisingly touching modern-day comedy classic in the making thanks also to the talented ensemble including vets Simmons and Janney as Page's all-too-understanding yet suffering parents. Truly a delight from the get-go with its curdled, archness blending with its gooey center  a chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter-slice of perfection. One of the year's very best.