'Juno' is one of the most impressive films I've seen in years. While I expected the movie to be a mixture of the comedy of 'Superbad' and the style of 'Napoleon Dynamite', it was much different than I expected - but in a good way.
Ellen Page was superb as Juno, a young, cynical teenager who finds herself pregnant after an odd sexual encounter with her nerdy best friend Paulie Bleaker (Michael Cera). Juno wants nothing more than to be her rebellious and off-beat self, and now is thrown reluctantly into adulthood. She struggles with making difficult choices and tries to handle her pregnancy and the complicated decisions about her coming baby. Page delivers a stunning debut, and gives an extraordinary performance as the jaded teenager who is much too wise for age.
Cera, fresh off his newfound popularity from 'Superbad', and frankly a bit underutilized here, did a convincing job of playing the dork-next-door. The character himself has his own demons to battle, coming across with a nonchalant attitude of being a father. Cera is natural as the young teenage geek, a part he plays to a T in his past few movies and in the comedy series 'Arrested Development'. However in 'Juno', Cera shows that he is not just being typecast and that his acting abilities will surely prepare him for any role he takes on.
Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner, though seemingly an odd casting choice, are terrific as a mismatched yuppie couple who are desperate to have a child. Both bring an integrity to the roles and are natural as the dysfunctional Lorings. Clearly the casting is dead on, proven by J.K. Simmons as Juno's father and Allison Janney as her stepmother, parents who are a bit zany but loving under the surface. The parents bring an extra sense of comedy to the movie, especially when it starts to get a bit too serious.
Though the story may seem far-fetched, it is believable, mainly due to the terrific acting, which allows the characters and plot to fit into our modern society. Director Jason Reitman has made a classic film, bringing an understated simplicity in this hilarious, yet emotional movie. 'Juno' is a film that is relatable to anyone who watches it, whether you're a pregnant unwed teen, a dog-obsessed stepmother, or anyone in between.
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