Review for Juno

This is a cracking film, five stars all the way. It started with a chair...

Juno (Ellen Page) is the star of the moment. She lights up the screen and her comic timing and emotional range are incredible. The film deals with the issue of Junos' underage pregnancy and as it begins we see Juno drinking gallons of "Sunny D" in order to enable her to take her third pregnancy test of the day. As expected the results are the same as the first two and so the story starts.

We are introduced to Leah (Olivia Thirly), Junos' best friend, whose laid back detached attitude to the news of Junos' pregnancy gives us a good idea of the type of humour to expect from this film. Leah suggests an abortion and with that they move immediately to the first priority, moving a discarded living room set to the front lawn of her boyfriend Pauly Bleeker (Micheal Cera). From this arm chair, she breaks the news to Pauly. His response is brilliantly dead pan and naive (he is a real mummy’s boy) and once again the acting is very good. Having gained his approval for the idea of an abortion, Juno sets off on her mission, only to be thwarted at the last moment by the startling revelation from a school friend campaigning outside the clinic, that foetuses have fingernails.

It is at this point that Leah suggests adoption and tells Juno that people advertise for children in the "penny ads". Having chosen the prospective parents (Vanessa - Jennifer Garner and Mark - Jason Bateman), she then faces the inevitable task of breaking the news to her own father (J.K. Simmons) and step mother (Allison Janney). Their reaction is unexpected, hilarious and touching all at the same time. From this point on you will be on the edge of your seat, laughing, crying and just enjoying spending time with these characters.

It is the interaction and chemistry between all of the characters in this film which make it such a joy to watch, helped out by a quirky but fantastic soundtrack, which fits perfectly with the spirit of the film.

This is undoubtedly a modern classic and possibly a wakeup call for parents of adolescent children all over the Western Hemisphere (a "cautionary whale" in Junos' own words).

There are also some gems in the special features: blooper reels, deleted scenes which give a little added insight, interviews with the writer, Diablo Cody and with the director, Jason Reitman. For me what stood out most was the screen tests. There are quite a few of these and they make everybody’s high opinion of Ellen Page (Juno) very apparent, opinions which must surely be shared by anyone who sees her performance in this film.

This is a highly intelligent comedy, in which the teenage stars show a "maturity far beyond our years" (see special features).

Watching this film is an experience and one which I would totally recommend to anybody. It is funny, real, heart warming and what else? Oh yes.....it ended with a chair.

by: Roadrash (roadrash at live dot co dot uk)