Juno

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2008)

From the director of Thank You For Smoking, Jason Reitman, comes this charming comedy about teenage life, pregnancy, family, and motherhood. Written by a former stripper, Diablo Cody, Juno is nominated for this year's Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) learned that she is pregnant after taking the pregnancy test thrice. She is only sixteen. Her boyfriend, Paulie (Michael Cera) did not know what to do after hearing the news. She considered abortion at first but then felt uncomfortable while inside the clinic. So she told her father and stepmother who took it in a casual way. Although they were expecting to hear her suspended from school rather than her pregnancy. Since she is not ready to be a mother, they searched for a couple who is willing to adopt her unborn child and found Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner). But it's more of Vanessa who wants it since Mark still prefers to watch gory films and collect comics instead of being ready to have a child.
Ellen Page shines throughout the film. She is undeniably the star of it. She portrayed Juno strongly in an endearing way. Her Oscar nomination is truly deserving. It is a pleasant surprise to see Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner like you've never seen them before. They are perfect for their roles. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney portrayed the supportive parents with humor and heart. Michael Cera is effective as the timid teenager who tries too hard to be cool.
The film delivers messages without being too preachy. It will touch your heart without trying too hard. It will keep you interested effortlessly. Almost every line is worth listening to and causes viewers to smile and chuckle often. Thanks to the witty script. The fun use of colors in the scenes gave the film a lively texture. Plus there is a great choice of music in the background. With all these elements combined, it is hard not to like this film. Juno is enjoyable from start to finish.