Great plot and acting, over-rated dialogue

Rating: 7/10 (26 February 2008)

An independent movie featuring a rising independent star in the talented Ellen Page, "Juno" is an interesting and original take on the popular teen movie genre. Aiming for humour and poignancy, rather than soap-opera style drama or gross-out laughs, "Juno" succeeds through a great story and some strong performances.
The film centres on tough-talking but sweet-natured Juno MacGuff (Page)as she deals with falling pregnant after a one-night stand with a shy schoolmate Bleeker (Micheal Cera). Not in a rush to become a mother at sixteen, Juno enlists the aid of two adults Vanessa (Jessica Garner) and Mark (Jason Bateman) who promise to parent the child once it is born. As time wears on and Juno comes to term, fate throws up a few unexpected surprises and Juno is forced to make some really hard decisions...
The acting in this film is top-notch, no question. The ever-reliable J.K Simmons ("Spider-Man") is on fine form as Juno's wise old dad, Cera is gently believable as her boyfriend and Jason Bateman turns in a fine performance as Mark. As opposed to Juno, who is wise beyond her years, Mark is really a child who has yet to fully grow up and Bateman captures this superbly.
Ellen Page has won a round of awards and an Oscar nod for her turn as the eponymous Juno, yet although it is a good performance, it is not the actress's best. She was better in "Hard Candy", and I think she should have gotten an Oscar nod for that film instead. But this is not to degrade her work in "Juno" however as she is still sweet, smart and funny in her role.
Oscar winner Diablo Cody has gathered much praise "Juno", which is her first ever screenplay. Her much-vaunted dialogue was to me a little too clever, as nearly every character in the movie makes classical or pop culture references. There are so many of them that pretty soon they fail register with the humorous effect intended. Far better is her actual plot, as Cody offers through her story an original take on the teen movie. There are virtually no stereotypes in her script, and I was impressed by the last-minute twist at the end. If Cody can apply her excellent story-telling technique on show here to other ideas and other movies, she will hopefully have a great career ahead of her.
Probably the least serious and least pretentious of this year's top Oscar contenders, "Juno" is well worth your money and your time.