**** (Four stars)Juno (2007)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
96 minutes - PG13 rating
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby, and Rainn Wilson
Brief Plot: Juno MacGuff (Page) is pregnant! Only 16, Juno struggles with her dilemnna and ultimately makes decisions, grows up, and matures. Garner and Bateman star as a couple wishing to adopt who have struggles of their own.
Best Audience: This comedy deals with more serious content so I wouldn't recommend it as a comedy for your tween daughter's sleepover, but many high-school aged kids can relate to the struggles of being a kid in an adult world and the movie is mostly clear of objectionable content. A good date movie, but not a movie just for couples, most anyone should be able to enjoy this movie.
My Review: Juno was recently treated well at the Academy Award nominations including a chance at Best Picture and Best Lead Actress (Ellen Page). When I viewed it at the theater I was expecting a good movie because I had heard very positive reviews. The movie was surprisingly good but I wouldn't expect it to win the big one. Page makes the movie and Michael Cera (Superbad) is the perfect love interest/geeky teen. I loved J.K. Simmons as Mr. MacGuff as he provided some different humor elements that the quick-tongued Juno (Page) did not provide. A great performance from Jennifer Garner too, who makes me relate about as much as I can to an infertile mother-wannabe. In all seriousness, however, she was moving. The movie has a soundtrack that some will love and others will not care for. I wasn't overly impressed but the screenplay for the movie was very solid. The humor is quick and witty, though the quick dialog is maybe a little forced at times, kind of like watching an episode of Gilmore Girls. Even so the movie doesn't get old and Page is just surprisingly good - enough so to keep us entertained for 96 minutes. As my friend remarked, however, I hope they don't make a sequel.
5 comments:
When I first heard about this movie, I didn't think it was one that I would like, but I'm having second thoughts after reading your review.
that's good. I do actually think you would be entertained by it.
Come on Mike, you have to see it; it was great. Thanks for the review Joe. I would have to agree, please, please no sequel. There is just no way that the sequel could be as good so lets just leave it at one Juno. Ellen Page was great and she came out of no where for me. I don't even remember her in X-Men:Last Stand, but Juno proves her talent. How about Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) by the way; his handful of lines were delivered flawlessly.
Question.....How do you know what Gilmore Girls episodes are like? Just curious...lol
uh... don't ask... but also an ex-girlfriend enjoyed watching the show occasionally.
Also, yes, I greatly enjoyed Rainn's contribution to the movie.
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