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| Poster artwork for the comedy romance drama film Juno. |
Following his highly successful satirical drama Thank You For Smoking, director Jason Reitman effectively brings Diablo Cody's brilliant screenwriting to cinematic perfection in the independent film Juno. Juno tells the story of sixteen year old Juno MacGuff who falls pregnant, considers abortion, opts for adoption and gains an understanding of being a woman despite her tender years.
The film's allure is in Diablo Cody's script which finds humour in the most serious and dire situations. The dialogue is sprinkled with impressive one-liners and phrases that are destined to become part of the everyday contemporary lexicon. The film's fantastic soundtrack adds to the scenes' nuances and reflects the characters' idiosyncrasies.
Ellen Page is exceptional as the impulsive and intelligent Juno MacGuff, whose naïveté and immaturity leads to her pregnancy. Page's portrayal of Juno deserves an Oscar, and she draws you into her character's world and makes you laugh, respect, admire and care about Juno.
Michael Cera is affable as the father of Juno's baby, Paulie Bleeker, but is downplayed and he is absent in the choices and decisions regarding the baby. Yet, this may point to Bleeker's childlike and trusting nature, who is happy to have Juno around on her terms and he would do anything for her.
Allison Janney gives a classy performance as Juno's stepmum Brenda MacGuff, who starts off as the typical overprotective parent with suspicions her children are messing with drugs, alcohol or being expelled from school. The clever script allows Brenda to evolve into a hip and sharp-tongued parent winning approval from Juno and the audience.
JK Simmons is superb as Juno's dad Mac MacGuff, who shows similar character evolution with his dialogue going from square to there. His father and daughter talk with Juno includes the hilarious line "Isn't that what the girls call it these days? Skanky? Skeezy? You know, tore up from the floor up?".
The adoption couple have a more complex character structure as a pair as well as individually.
Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play Vanessa and Mark Loring, who at first seem like the happily married couple desperately wanting a child to complete their domestic bliss. Garner exudes plenty of maternal warmth and sincerity as Vanessa who gains a child despite losing a partner.
Jason Bateman's Mark is a child at heart and a man whose rock 'n roll dreams remain unfulfilled. Bateman is charming as Mark, and his character's mutual affection towards Juno reveals a yearning to be young again and live for his music.
Every teenage comedy drama needs a best friend for the hero/heroine and Olivia Thirlby exceeds beyond expectations as Leah. Thirlby gives her character Leah a vibrant and optimistic energy, with enough perkiness to enliven any gloomy situation, especially in helping Juno find adoptive parents, "You should look in the Penny Saver...Yeah, 'Desperately Seeking Spawn'."
The soundtrack to the film is eclectic with indie-pop and pseudo-folk songs which include Sonic Youth, Cat Power, Kimya Dawson and The Kinks. A duet is featured in the film with Ellen Page and Michael Cera performing Anyone Else But You.
*Up the duff - Australian slang meaning pregnant.(www.alldownunder.com)
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| FOETAL ATTRACTION: Ultrasound technician (Kaaren de Zilva) makes moral judgement comments on teenage pregnancy to Juno (Ellen Page) in front of Leah (Olivia Thirlby) and Brenda (Allison Janney) in the film Juno.
Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures
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Director: Jason Reitman
Writers: Diablo Cody (screenplay)
Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, Olivia Thirlby, J.K. Simmons, Rainn Wilson, Sierra Pitkin, Kaaren De Zilva, Emily Perkins, Daniel Clark, Eileen Pedde, Ashley Whillans
Producers: Nathan Kahane, Daniel Dubiecki, John Malkovich, Brad Van Arragon, Mason Novick, Kelli Konop, Jim Miller, Liane Halfon, Joseph Drake, Russell Smith
Cinematographer: Eric Steelberg (Director of Photography)
Original Music Composer: Mateo Messina
Film Editor: Dana E. Glauberman
Production: Steve Sakland (Production Designer), Michael Diner, Catherine Schroer (Art Directors), Shane Vieau (Set Decorator)
Costume Designer: Monique Prudhomme
Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
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