Juno

By Nathan Young

A quirky and offbeat comedy is one of my favorite types of films.

‘ Juno’, the latest film from director Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking), is a bitingly funny reminder why.

Juno MacGuff, played wonderfully by Ellen Page, is a 16-year-old girl who is impregnated by her geeky but sweet friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). She goes to a women's clinic for an abortion but ends up changing her mind. Shortly thereafter, she reads about Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). The Lorings are a young couple unable to conceive and looking to adopt. Juno’s parents Mac (J.K. Simmons) and Bren (Allison Janney) are bewildered by their daughter's situation, but supportive nonetheless.

There are so many things to like in this film, it’s hard to know where to begin. Diablo Cody's first screenplay is caustic and sweet at the same time, and Reitman does a masterful job at bringing it all together. There are several laugh out loud moments mixed with more subtle humor. The lead character is someone to root for, which makes the film easy to invest in.

The entire cast is fantastic. Page is so perfect in the lead role it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the role. She completely inhabits Juno, capably juggling her seemingly contradictory qualities of precociousness and naiveté.

Cera shows his hilarious performance as George Michael on the underrated television show ‘Arrested Development’ was no fluke. In his hands, Paulie is awkward in a lot of ways, but not when it comes to his feelings for Juno.

Simmons and Janney are both brilliant. The scene where Juno announces her pregnancy to her parents is awkwardly hilarious. Simmons is a capable character actor who brings humor and a surprising warmth to Mac. Janney is one of the finest actresses around, and yet still floats under the radar of most moviegoers. She is one the best reasons to see the film despite her limited role.

Garner and Bateman also put in commendable performances, especially when one considers that they are in supporting roles despite being the biggest names in the cast. Garner quietly displays Vanessa's desperation for a child, while Bateman supplies a palpable sense of fear to Mark over the baby's arrival.

The story is a sweet one despite its sometimes racy subject matter. A good example is Mark's inappropriate attraction to Juno, a situation that Cody thankfully keeps above board in the end.

'Juno' is a fun film. It is poignant and funny, and features a breakthrough performance by Page. She will be a household name before long.