The Red and Black

Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Out & About

Media Credit: Courtesy Firstshowing.net [Click to enlarge]

Think back to when you were 16. What if you were pregnant or had gotten someone pregnant? It probably wouldn't have been as amusing as "Juno," the latest movie tackling the same issue. However, first-time writer Diablo Cody's dialogue and characters still seem honest throughout the improbabilities of the story.

It only took one time for Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) and her best guy friend, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), to get bored and have sex, resulting in Juno's loss of a period for nine months.

Page oozes sarcasm as she delivers quotable one-liners throughout the movie, making you wonder if anyone could ever be that clever - and if they are, you're kind of envious.

Cera is utterly adorable as the young teen whose biggest worry used to be sweating too much while running track before he knocked up his best friend. He has absolutely no clue what to do in his situation, and who would?

It's no spoiler to say that Juno's first idea for an abortion doesn't work out, and she decides to give the baby up for an adoption.


She finds a nice family in the local classified ads and meets them in their spotless home to make arrangements for a planned adoption. Juno sticks out more than her bulging belly in the couple's immaculate abode, but they eventually find her oddball comments endearing, including the one calling their future baby a sea monkey.

Jennifer Garner is Vanessa Loring, the prim and proper wannabe mom married to Mark Loring (Jason Bateman), the wannabe rock star who composes commercial jingles instead.

Perhaps Garner's recent venture into motherhood helped her slide into the role of Vanessa with such ease. Her earnest yearning for a child is effective as she decorates the baby's room and feels it kick.

While pregnant, Juno begins to discover herself and form deeper relationships with her family and friends. She bonds with her neurotic stepmother (Allison Janney) and finds solace when talking to her dad (J.K. Simmons), who both hoped their child's problems were more in line with drugs rather than being with child herself.

A memorable film highlight is the changing of the seasons displayed by the track team's shift in weather conscious apparel while constantly running around town.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools