Entertaining and cute - and extremely desperately trying to be hip and indie

Rating: 10/10 (18 August 2008)

I think there are two major problems with this movie.
The first thing is that the movie really tries to be cute on the one hand, but one the other deep and moving. Therefore those two aspects somehow collide into kitsch. The characters, even the married couple often cited as the "only convincing and authentic characters" in this movie are not realistically portrayed. I mean the problems all those characters are going through are extremely hard to get by. It's way more complicated, especially a teenage pregnancy followed by adoption can lead to serious problems. I just think that its not convincing that Juno or bleek didn't even wanted to see the child. Also the dialogue seems often stylized which can be annoying at times.
Then the other problem is that Juno is desperate to look like a independent movie, "stealing" from both - indie-rock and indie-film-culture. there are plenty of references to rock-culture that are rather superficial and pointless than smart and subversive. Every Minute of the movie you see that they somehow try to create those authentic aesthetics indie-movies often have and also tries to appear as a film with rather complex relationship dynamics. However, it doesn't work. This is an good olé Hollywood flick, i would even call it family entertainment. It cannot hide the fact that it is. People expecting something else will eventually be disappointed.
Nevertheless, the movie has many strong points (I remember myself saying ""this is the best movie ever"). I loved the movie for its dry humor. The dialogue may be stylized, but is also quick and refreshing, making you laugh and thinking "geez, why can't people in real life talk like this?". Furthermore, i think the characters, at least most oft them, are very likable. They make the movie really cute and warm. And of course, as I am a huge Moldy Peaches fan, the soundtrack is a huge plus.