Movie Review - 'Juno'

Juno

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner
Directed by Jason Reitman
Rated PG-13

For better or worse, Juno attacks the issue of unwanted teen pregnancy with a clear conscience and a fully loaded sense of humor. To some, the approach might not have enough perspective on a topic wreaking havoc in our society, but it does have the perspective of a sassy teenager, and since it's her story, that should be what matters most.

Juno (Ellen Page) is resigned to her pregnancy. She realizes what she did, realizes she can't care for a baby and realizes that she'd be better off giving the baby to an adoptive couple than she would be keeping it.

The unborn child's father, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera from Superbad), is hardly the Big Man on Campus, but his swimmers obviously have higher goals. She finds in Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) what she believes to be ideal parents: He's cool and cultured, she's nurturing and conservative.

Screenwriter Diablo Cody is getting a lot of praise for her script, which has better dialogue than it does structure, plotting, and resolution. It's quirky, but I certainly didn't feel like I was watching the second coming of Charlie Kaufman.

The characters are very good and their combinations are particularly engaging, but the story doesn't do very much to support them. Not coincidentally, the performances stand out, particularly Page (who just earned a Golden Globe nomination, and deservedly so) and Garner, who almost makes you forget she was a TV action figure three years ago.

Juno McGuff is a character who will outlast her movie, like Napoleon Dynamite, like Ron Burgundy. The movie simply wouldn't be worth it without her, that character and that actress.

Juno has been hailed, for purposes of comparison, as this year's Little Miss Sunshine. And I get the comparisons. However, this film is lovable and memorable while Sunshine felt more complete.

That's not to say I didn't have a great time watching Juno, because I did. It just doesn't go to 11 is all.