A Lot Smarter Than You Think.

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2008)

Plot:
When 16-year-old Juno MacGuff (Page) gets pregnant by her not-quite-boyfriend (Cera), she elects to have the child adopted by a wealthy suburban couple (Bateman and Garner). Then the problems really start...
Review:
Teenage pregnancy, tough note to some, more of a tough note to the parents of the supposed victimless teenager whose new found realisation is bestowed upon. Juno is a witty and very clever tale of a down to earth 16 year old who comes to age, so to speak of her really, really unplanned pregnancy, in a film which receives more coverage than the other two films put together.
The second film from director Jason Reitman, following from his smooth debut piece' Thank You For Smoking', and the first script from multi-careered Diablo Cody, of details we won't go into right now. Juno has the first trouble for being compared in the same demeanour and style as 2007's 'Superbad' which, in addition, stared Michael Cera prior to Juno. Some gloat that it tries to impress, but be like any other film loving viewer and go see it to judge. A three-act structure that follows the emotional highs and lows of Juno's winter-to-summer pregnancy, the film saves its aces for last.
A touchy subject is the main brunt from audiences to try to wonder why to approach a such a 'Serious' subject, all too common in the UK, which will cause some segregation. The first ten-fifteen minutes will possibly have you confused with ayes and nays.
Our heroine? She is our cool-old school- rock loving teen who happens to be more retro than todays rampant bunch, more so on Ellen Page' part for a playing a younger role. Thankfully she plays it well, showing perhaps maybe there is hope for the next generation. Juno has her cheerleader best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) to discuss to for the big news, offering support for the ride to come, the pace and tone shifts to a more floating setting and full of more warming scenes.
One of the surprises of Juno's character is her unwavering wit, it just so happens to act as a blanket for her insecurities and a strategic defence for people's opinions; she is definitely given the main spotlight for a reason, her witty, cunning and self-sufficient manner. This is the key to when she breaks the news to the old Step-Mum and Dad, (you knew it was coming) played by J. K. Simmons and step-mom Allison Janney, who add a lot of depth on their part to the story, not grief stricken about their daughters lack of control and immaturity but her maturity to give the unborn baby to adoptive parents, everything is planned out well, what's to worry about? Juno's up the duff, big time, the more is shows the more problems it brings, but carefully written scenes and moments show Juno's softer side, and is first glimpsed in her relationship with the baby's father, Paulie (Michael Cera).
Here come the crazy adoptive parents! The wife, and soon to be mother, Vanessa (Jennifer Garner), uptight high-class control-freak, leaving our sympathies to side with, albeit relaxed, father Jason Bateman's Mark, a former grunge musician who matches Juno's personality so well, from music, to living style.
"I'm dealing with things way beyond my maturity level," she tells her dad, as an example of the type of conversations Juno has with her understand father after she finds herself drawn to Mark and his collection of, music, gore movies and manga comics. This does really show how young she is. Scenes like this that gives the film depth, as Juno gradually discovers who's on her side in life's battle. The almost wholly without dialogue, scenes shows the greatest achievement in emotional impact and restrain from making it too dramatic, it also bodes well with Juno's character when in the midst of all hell on earth, she keeps that whit, that fast-talking loudmouthed mind to a closed silence.
Verdict:
Sharply written, funny in the right places, heart-warming and 'edge-of-your-seat' enjoyment. What you need for a great time. 8.5/10.