Juno

When’s the last time do you remember laughing at a teacher putting a condom on a banana? Or a teenager peeing on a home pregnancy test? Or quote “Thundercats a go!?” Diablo Cody writes her intimate character portrait Juno, starring Ellen Page in the title role as a young teenager who gets pregnant and decides to give it up to a family unable to have children.

Thank You for Smoking’s director Jason Reitman helms this ship of laughter, tenderness and Hamburger phones. The narrative is absolutely fantastic as it keeps the viewer engaged at all times but in essence, it’s the hypnotizing dialogue from the screenplay by Diablo Cody that makes the film work so well.

Ellen Page turns in one of the year’s best performances as the young naïve and charming Juno MacGuff. She’ll steal your heart with her wonderful one liners and equally break it with her character breakdowns and insecurities. Even though this has no measure to her Oscar snubbed performance in Hard Candy, this does hold some time of candle to it and is complete contention for an Oscar nomination. The role however, doesn’t possess that extra mile to steamroll any other female performer this year. But its not only Page that makes the film succeed.

Some of the supporting players turn some of their best performances of their careers. Michael Cera popularly known as the innocent “Evan” from Superbad, plays Paulie Bleeker, the “father-to-be-not” and gives a charming comedic performance. His role however doesn’t require much out of him with the exception of tiny yellow shorts.

Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner play Mark and Vanessa, the couple waiting for their chance at parenthood. This dynamic duo turn in the best performances of their careers. With layer upon layer of emotions these two actors possess, its amazing how they ever came to know them. Bateman’s charisma and immaturity to say the least, fits well with the picture. His awkwardness is embodied quite well. Garner who tears at you from the inside out is so effective as Vanessa, the hopeful mother-to-be shows acting range which we have never seen from her before. Heartbroken, worried, and disenchanted engulf Vanessa which makes Garner sensational at her job.

J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney play the loveable parents of Juno. As she tries to come to terms with her new pregnant lifestyle she spends time with her stepmother Bren, (Janney) the sarcastic, hard-nosed woman that is coming to terms with her new stepdaughter. Janney is loveable and utterly hilarious but its Simmons who is the stronger of the two and is more authentic in his character and traits. There is a good breakthrough performance lying in Olivia Thirlby as the “teacher obsessed” best friend of Juno. She turns in a beautiful humane performance and encompasses the young teenager persona wonderfully.

What are Juno’s Oscar chances? To quote Tom Houseman as he told me after the film was over “That is not Little Miss Sunshine.” Completely true and well said, it is not Little Miss Sunshine but it is a great picture, very reminiscent of past teenage icon films Fast Time at Ridgemont High and Weird Science. Diablo Cody is a definite threat for the Original Screenplay Oscar and Ellen Page is a strong contender for Best Actress. (I feel it’ll be between her and Amy Adams for a spot) Best Picture isn’t out of the question but it’s rather small in a year full of big films and bigger stars. The film is a gem but I think expectations were too high and it fell a little short. But alas, I love Juno.

Grade: ***½/****