Juno Really Heats Up ***1/2

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2008)

A really inspiring film despite the usual subject matter of an unwanted teen pregnancy.
Ellen Page really gives a lot of herself in her Oscar nominated performance as a teenager in trouble.
Fortunately, this girl has her head on her shoulders. She knows that she can't keep the child and is able to find what she thinks will be the ideal couple to adopt her baby. Unfortunately, the couple proves not to be what we're all expecting. It seems that Page has entered their lives just at a time when their very marriage is disintegrating rapidly.
Ellen's father and step-mother play an understanding couple in this situation. I was a little perplexed regarding the stepmother part of Allison Janney. When hearing the news of Page's pregnancy, she begins to exhibit religious fanaticism that we saw her do so well on a comedy level in "Hairspray." Suddenly, she falls into line and gives a truly compelling supporting performance.
This is a lovely, emotionally paced film.