Juno
Directed by Jason Reitman
Fox Searchlight 2007
By Eva Bowering
Juno is a film screaming with quirkiness. It has unbridled, in-your-face comedic timing, and could be considered one of the breakthrough indie comedies of 2007. Many people may even relate it to Little Miss Sunshine (2006) in its attempt at offering its viewer a comedic perspective of family, and the troubles of young-adult life.
Written by Diablo Cody, a Los Angeles-based writer and blogger, and directed by Jason Reitman of Thank You For Smoking fame, Juno stars Canada’s own Ellen Page (Hard Candy) and Michael Cera (Superbad) as high-school friends who end up with an untimely accident on their hands. Page plays Juno, and Cera is Paulie Bleeker, her orange-Tic-Tac-eating, track-and-field-obsessed friend. The film primarily focuses on Juno dealing with the unexpected pregnancy. Bleeker himself manages to live a relatively normal high-school life throughout. Which brings up my only primary concern with the film, that being the fact that Bleeker’s character seems to be completely eliminated from the pregnancy ordeal. Although it is made clear from the get-go that Juno is taking full responsibility for the situation, I found it somewhat hard to believe that Bleeker himself, as well as his family, would really have no cause for concern about the situation. Never does Juno highlight how Bleeker feels about the pregnancy or where exactly he’s coming from until the culmination of the film. Even then, it is not exactly clear. I just found it hard to believe that he would rather concentrate on track and field, Tic-Tacs, and school dances, than on the girl carrying his child.
Juno does decide to put the baby up for adoption, with the support of her accepting parents Mac McGuff (J.K Simmons) and stepmother Bren (Allison Janney), as well as best friend, teacher-loving Leah (Olivia Thirlby). Juno places a penny-saver ad and finds your supposedly ideal suburban couple, played by Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman and Alias‘ Jennifer Garner, who are willing to adopt the child. Unlike many films, Juno is a realistic portrayal of teen pregnancy in the sense that the female protagonist is not alienated, nor is she considered brainless or some sort of obligatory social delinquent. Juno’s character offers no type of judgment. Nor is she served like an ironic afternoon special. Juno is in fact the exact opposite of that. She could actually be considered one of the most intelligent female protagonists seen on film. A, dare I say, alternative role model for teenage girls. The film does not shy away from the subjects of abortion, or teen sex in general. Instead, it deals with them openly, honestly, and sincerely, rather than being preachy or dark. A highlight is a scene in which Juno visits a Planned Parenthood-esque clinic, and has to face not only a conservative classmate protesting out front, but also a snarky clerk who wryly gives Juno uncalled-for sex advice.
The film sort of lives in a topsy-turvy land where anyone can pretty much say whatever they are feeling at the time. It eliminates the whole social awkwardness of high school and manages to display it so that everyone can relate to it. Everyone can probably say that they knew someone like Juno in high school. Or maybe wishes they could have been like Juno in high school. Or maybe they were Juno. The film is wholeheartedly held by Ellen Page’s amazing performance as the witty, extroverted, attention-seeking title character. On top of all that, it proves to have one of the greatest soundtracks of the year. Whether or not any of the hip references will fly over people’s heads, the moral ideas of family and relationships remain crystal clear. Juno is a classic.
Righteous.