Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Alison Janney, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman Dir: Jason Reitman Rat: 2.5/5
Juno stars Ellen Page as the title character, a whip-smart teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy. Juno may seem wise beyond her years, but after sleeping with classmate Bleeker (Michael Cera), the pregnant teen quickly realizes how little she really knows about life
Thankfully, Juno has been blessed with parents (J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney) who trust their daughter's judgment and give her their total support
With the help of her hot best friend Leah (Thirlby), Juno finds her unborn child a "perfect" set of parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa (Bateman and Garner), longing to adopt.
Now, as adolescent Juno is faced with a series of very adult and tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately figures out where she belongs.
She will draw on the support of her family and friends in order to discover who she truly is, and discover that one bad choice can have a lifetime of consequences.
This film whipped up a storm when it was released in cinemas landing a Best Picture, Actress and Director Oscar nominations as well as bagging Best Original Screenplay, for writer Diablo Cody, on the night.
However it has to be one of the most over-hyped and overrated movies of the year. Despite being labelled as 2008's Little Miss Sunshine Juno lacked the warmth and the heart of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' surprise hit movie.
The film tries too hard to try and represent the youth of today with this too-hip script and pseudo-witty dialogue that if you heard someone speak it you would just think what the hell - FYI no one talks like that.
But the biggest problem was the beginning of the film was just too slow and by the time the cracks in Mark and Vanessa's relationship begin to show and the impact that this had on the heavily pregnant Juno, which was the most interesting part of the film, you may just have lost interest.
And while Ellen Page looks to have a promising acting career this character really does grate over the two hour duration of the movie. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman, though not the main characters, do give the best performances as the husband and wife couple split over their decision to have a child.
Garner puts aside all her Hollywood credentials to play a subtle role as a career woman desperate to be a mother and her husband who is not ready to be a father.
But the major downfall of this movie is the way that the issue of unwanted pregnancy and finding an adoptive family is handled depicting finding a suitable family, handing over the child and getting on with her life was a stroll in the park.
This only glorifies the idea of a teenage, unwanted pregnancy suggesting that this is a very easy solution.
Best Juno does go on a journey of self discovery making adult decisions, learning what she wants in life as well as learning about the importance of family, friends and love along the way.
But when the end credits roll you will find yourself wanting to like this movie more than you actually do.
Juno is out on DVD now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw.
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