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Jaq's Review: Juno - A Beautiful Delivery

by Jaq Greenspon
December 4, 2007

US Release Date: December 5, 2007 (Limited)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
MPAA: Rated PG-13 (for mature thematic material, sexual content and language)
Running Time: 92 minutes
Directed by: Jason Reitman
on IMDb
9/10

“This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet.”

- Rainn Wilson as Rollo

The cool kids in high school are never as cool in retrospect. When you think back on it, from an adult perspective, they were the odd-balls, the ones who did whatever they wanted, who didn't conform to societal norms. Such is the case with Juno, the title character in the new film directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) and written by Diablo Cody. She's cool because she isn't a cheerleader or a bitch. She's just this odd little girl, named after the queen of the Roman gods, with a step-mom and a half-sister and house phone that looks like a hamburger. In short, she's cool simply because she isn't.

And then... well, and then she gets pregnant. It was an accident that happened when she was being deflowered by her best friend Bleeker. After a not-so-good visit to the women's clinic, Juno decides to carry the baby to term and then give it up for adoption to a couple she finds in the classifieds. At this point, this could be any 70's-era after-school special. What makes it different is that none of the characters are stereotypical. From Juno herself (the adorable Ellen Page) to her best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby), a cheerleader who has a crush on the not-so-hunky math teacher, to the father of her child, Bleeker (up-and-comer Michael Cera). Each of these fine young actors are helped along by a script which allows them to confess real emotions in a stylized way. The dialogue sounds like a high school version of Mamet, zippy and laced with subtext.

Juno and the father Paulie Bleeker meet up awkwardly on the running track in Juno. Juno Review

Even Juno's parents are a bit of a surprise. Her father (the increasingly versatile J.K. Simmons), when faced with the news of his eldest's indiscretion, doesn't fly off the handle or even raise his voice. Instead, he reacts with calm and genuine concern. It's not that he isn't angry, he is, but he's also smart enough to understand that's not going to get him anywhere. Instead, he steps up and assumes the role of protector. And his wife, Juno's step-mother (Allison Janney), who could easily be slotted into the bad guy role, defies expectations by being real, by supporting her wayward kid, even when she doesn't always believe that kid is making the right choices.

That's part of what makes this film so charming. There is no bad guy. No one is to blame, there's no evil syndicate after the unborn child and that child is not the spawn of Satan. Every one is human and flawed and scared and confused. And this includes the adoptive parents. Mark and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). These two represent the opposite of Juno's life. They are yuppies who just can't have a child and really, really want one. Garner, in particular, does a fine job of portraying the desperate wannabe mom. Bateman, however, is the film's only misstep. While his performance is fine, his character, someone who connects with Juno in ways she never imagined, gets the brunt of screenwriter Cody's moralizing. Bateman's Mark is in the unenviable position of being the one loose end and it's a shame, because the outcome could have been the same without him making some of the choices he did.

Juno meets the adopting parents, Mark and Vanessa, for the first time. Juno Review

Before we wrap this up, though, we must mention the music. The soundtrack (which is not available commercially) is taken mostly from pre-existing songs by members of The Moldy Peaches and should do for their music what Benny & Joon did for The Proclaimers. The songs are coffee house grunge and fit the mood so perfectly I was surprised to learn they weren't written specifically for the film.

By the time we get to the beginning of a new life, which ends the film, we are witness to a beautiful moment. It shows there can be things which are completely life-altering, that don't have to change your life. And that's a great message for anyone of any age.

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Anonymous

I never saw Juno, and always thought it was SO random. But now after reading the review, I think it might be pretty funny. I could suggest watching it.
Kristine

"It shows there can be things which are completely life-altering, that don't have to change your life. " So, you think that giving up a baby for adoption is an event that would not change someone's life? Think again.
bublu&bwyn

hi tomatillos, yum... bublu: This is the first movie we haven't seen yet. I for one, want too. I think it's a good storyline. Except for the whole premaritial concept-- that's not for me. Everybody says its a random movie, but I think it takes a regular thing and turns it into a charming story. The difference is, Juno and Bleeker are cooly not cool kids, not the preppy stereotype high schoolers. I like the way Bleeker responds to Juno telling him he is so cool even though he doesn't try at all, Actually, I try really hard. But you could never tell! Those are some pretty cool people... bwyn: I dunno... :-p *<:-) bublu: The last one was a birthday smilie. I can make a clown. o<:o) Ta da! adioso avacados.
A Butta

I saw this movie, and I agree with everyone else: it is phenomenal. You're right about the characters, there are no archetypes whatsoever, and every character with significant screen time is given dialogue that suggests an underlying depth and complexity, even tho the actors playing the parts didn't have time on screen to flesh them out. So yeah, the writing was great. I loved the screwed up yuppie couple, who were broken in their own right. Bateman's character was kind of a creep, but he didn't mean to be. I take his character's creepy actions of his way of expressing what he honestly wanted, without all the hassle of actually being honest with himself. Garner was great too, her character's existence made hollow in the backdrop of having a great life but missing the piece that she felt could give it genuine value. Again, phenomenal writing, great movie.
Henry J

I'm gonna have to disagree - I found it emotionally uninvolving, with pretentious dialogue, and copious amounts of name-dropping. She could have developed the characters far past what they were, but she chose not to. It tries much to hard to be 'indy,' and hip, and she's got no idea how to give her characters their own voices. It's really not as great as everyone makes it out to be.
valaira

this movie is asum