alec96's Movie Review of Juno

Rating of
4/4

Juno

Juno review
alec96 - wrote on 10/07/11

I was not expecting such a great movie from the few opening scenes. It takes a little time for the movie to get all of it's longer term plans into action. It didn't start off bad at all though, it was just opening up to be like one of those many screwball comedy's out there. As the movie goes on, you start to realize that it is so much more than your average comedy. Many people have called this movie this year's Little Miss Sunshine or Sideways, but Juno tops even those great movies.

Juno tackles the subject of teen pregnancy. Ellen Page is Juno MacGuff. She is a sixteen year old girl who decides to sleep with her best friend Paulie( Michael Cera). Of course, she gets pregnant. She may seem wise beyond her years, but she starts to realize how little she actually knows about life. She decides to have the child, but she is not sure what to do with it yet. She knows she is far to young to try to raise a child herself. Her best friend Leah (Olivia Thirby) gives her a good idea. They start to look at the ads for adoptive parents, then Juno thinks they have found the perfect couple. Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner). They are a couple who have wanted to have a baby all of there lives, but couldn't. Before Juno goes to meet them, she has to do the most difficult thing of all. Tell her parents(J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney). Juno is faced with some truly adult discussion's. She soon discovers how one bad choice can lead to some really bad consequences.

Ellen Page gives a truly amazing performance here. One of the years best, and her all time best. She nails the comedy parts and the drama parts of the movie. Page's timing and presence in the movie is excellent. Jenifer Garner actually surprises in her best performance to date. She has a small one, but she makes the best out of every scene she is in. I really like how Jason Bateman puts more depth to his character here than he usually does. Micheal Cera plays his usual role as an award teenager, but he just does it so well. Now for J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as the parents. They are great, and have some truly touching and funny scenes in the movie. Everyone of the cast members are at there best. Still, the best performance comes from Ellen Page.

What really helps propel Juno into greatness is the intelligent screenplay it has. The script was also one of the best of the year. I don't want to give any of the many great lines away, but just know that the dialog is excellent. There are plenty of funny lines and many memorable ones throughout. The script has some subtle things to it that you won't catch from the first viewing. That makes it just as enjoyable when you watch it over for a second time. I got a constant urge to revisit the movie more than any movie I have seen in a very long time. Another thing that the movie has going for it is the soundtrack. It is nice and it fits in with the whole mood the movie has.

The most shocking thing about Juno is that it's not just all about teen pregnancy. Sure that is still a big part of it, but the movie uses that to explore it's many other meanings and themes. The movie also doesn't have one scene that shouldn't be there. All of the scenes that are there are almost all memorable. Especially the ones with Juno's parents. It flows very smoothly. Like I said, the humor is great, it is never to sharp. Overall Juno is really funny, very smart, and extremely touching.

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