Guarteed to smile

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2008)

Deservingly, this film has been nominated for four Oscars including best picture (maybe) and best leading actress (hopefully) for Ellen Page, and it also has confirmed her status as one of America's best new talents. She is one to watch.
First of all it was nice to see a proper title sequence and not just a crappy title in the corner, but that has nothing to do with the greatness of this film. The basic story is about a sarcastic, cynical, tomboyish teen played by Ellen Page called Juno MacGuff, who has sex with her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera of Superbad). This gives her an unwanted gift, in a form of a baby. Woops.
Juno decides to give her baby to what seems to be a perfect couple of Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner). It seems to be going smoothly at first but there bumps on the way to the birth.
Juno has a strange affect on you when you leave the cinema; the first reason is the fact that you couldn't ask for a better written story that makes you smile so much thanks to Diablo Cody, and secondly you feel that you could walk out of the cinema and you could see Juno MacGuff just standing there, as if she were a regular living, breathing teenager. That's how good Page is. In fact every single performance in this film is brilliant. It was good the way that Allison Jenney character of Juno's step mum, Bren isn't like average whiny she-demon like most step mums portrayed in films, she's far friendlier than you would expect. J.K. Simmons finally gets a role where he isn't a total jerk; instead, he's a sensitive father who truly cares for his wacky daughter. Some of the characters of this film may start off a little un-likable but nearly all turn out extremely likable.
Another fact of this film that I normally take no notice of is the sound track which is just perfect, as I like songs with good words; I might actually go out and buy it.
I don't think I have ever smiled (not laughed) at a film ever, only Little Miss Sunshine comes close. This film is also very funny with loads of witty lines shooting out of Pages mouth all the time. This really is a wonderful film.