The word 'quirky' has become the quick and easy way to describe films such as 'Little Miss Sunshine' and 'Lars and the Real Girl' that straddle the lines between indie and studio films and comedy and drama. While 'Juno' fits into that same category, this distinctive dramedy is in a class all its own. Ellen Page ('Hard Candy') stars as Juno, a witty teenage girl whose boredom doesn't lead her to the mall. Instead, she makes a one-time trip into the arms of her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera, 'Superbad'). When Juno discovers that she's pregnant, she's forced to grow up fast as she tries to find adoptive parents for her quickly growing child. ...
'Juno' might have a lot of strengths - Page's award-worthy performance, a pitch-perfect soundtrack, excellent direction from Jason Reitman - but it's the screenwriting debut of writer Cody Diablo that makes this such a winning film. Famous for her blog and her book 'Candy Girl - A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper', Diablo has a unique voice and an incredible ear for dialogue that led to her winning a Bafta and an Academy Award for 'Juno's script. But even the nearly perfect script wouldn't sound so good if it weren't for the talents of these actors, particularly Page. She won rave reviews for her first major role in 'Hard Candy', but this performance proves it wasn't a fluke. The rest of the cast, especially J.K. Simmons as Juno's dad, is just as worthy of attention. 'Juno' continues Cera's cinematic ascent after his success with the hit comedy 'Superbad', and his 'Arrested Development' co-star Jason Bateman uses his dry delivery to great effect as a potential parent for Juno's baby.
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In Juno, a spunky teenage girl (Ellen Page) named after the Roman goddess of women and childbirth gets herself accidentally knocked-up and decides to carry the pregnancy to term and then give "the thing" (as she fondly refers to her unborn progeny) up for adoption to a picture-perfect couple she finds advertised in the local PennySaver.
If the premise sounds like just the thing to raise a few eyebrows at some conservative media watchdog groups, wait until they see how it turns out. Of course, any forthcoming blasts of righteous condemnation will probably only add to the overall experience of the movie, which is already about as entertaining as it ...
Juno Comedy from director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody about a 16-year-old high school student contending with an unwanted pregnancy
Director Jason Reitman's debut feature Thank You For Smoking was a smart, if bleak, comedy, but in teaming up with producer Mason Novick and first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody, he has created a winning dynamic. Novick discovered, and got hooked on reading a blog written by Cody, an ex-stripper who had written a novel titled 'Candy Girl'. The original plan was for Cody to adapt the novel for the screen, but Novick suggested she write a sample screenplay to prove her ability. That script became Juno.
The resulting film is an ins...
The popular mini-genre of unwanted pregnancies being taken to term continues with Juno, an ultra-smart-mouthed comedy about a planned adoption that goes weirdly awry. Given that the girl who gets saddled with child here is a 16-year-old high schooler, played by the conspicuously talented Ellen Page, this zippy item skews younger than either Knocked Up or Waitress, the latter also a Fox Searchlight release. With Michael Cera (Superbad) as the unwitting underage dad, Jason Reitman???s modestly scaled follow-up to his sharp debut feature, Thank You for Smoking, is rather adventurously skedded for release on Dec. 14, and should score well as an alternative holiday...
Director Jason Reitman's debut feature Thank You For Smoking was a smart, if bleak, comedy, but in teaming up with producer Mason Novick and first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody, he has created a winning dynamic. Novick discovered, and got hooked on reading a blog written by Cody, an ex-stripper who had written a novel titled 'Candy Girl'. The original plan was for Cody to adapt the novel for the screen, but Novick suggested she write a sample screenplay to prove her ability. That script became Juno.
The resulting film is an inspired comedy, above even Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, thanks to the edgy freshness of Cody's voice. Juno is inventive and lively, mostly do...
This is one of my favorite movies. So amazing and fun. I love her style and attitude. Great!! Wanna see another great movie with Ellen Page as a leading lady?? Watch Hard Candy. It's so cool. 5/5 for both. Watch!!
I don't usually go for this type of movie, but I loved it. I loved this movie because it is sincere, honest, sweet, funny and real. Made me care about Juno, and I think it's a good movie when that happens.
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