Weird, Sharp and Witty

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2008)

You can now add "Juno" is my ever-changing list of favorite movies. This film so accurately portrays the awkward teen years, and every second of it is brilliant and inspired. "Juno" is about a teen girl of the same name  think that's weird; her sister's name is Liberty Bell  played wonderfully by Ellen Page who gets pregnant from geeky boyfriend Michael Cera of "Superbad" and "Arrested Development" fame. At first she wants an abortion but quickly changes her mind and decides to give the child to a nice husband and wife, played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner, who can't have children, instead.
Ellen Page, who most likely won't win any major awards because of who she's up against, definitely carries the movie. She has acting chops that surpass that of the most seasoned professional. She carries out to perfection someone deeply confused and pregnant and all the while spouting off obnoxious remarks. Diablo Cody has crafted a sharp, weird and witty script worthy of an Oscar, and the cast delivers the dialogue with cutting precision. Michael Cera, once again playing awkward so well, and J.K. Simmons as Juno's loving yet strange father especially stand out.
There are so many good things to say about this sweet, heartwarming film. The opening sequence features Juno, half real life and half drawn, walking through a cartoon town drinking a jug of juice while crayon-drawn credits come on then get erased off with beautiful folk music playing in the background. That is what kind of movie this is. And oh the music, it was so good I downloaded it right after seeing it. "Juno" also raises some interesting questions and has some great life-lessons. So basically this is all around superb.