2007, USA
Comedy, Drama, Romance
READ THE REVIEW AT The Desert Sun.
Extended version:
After pushing the tobacco trade in Thank You for Smoking, director Jason Reitman takes the obvious next step with teenage pregnancy in his brilliant sophomore effort, Juno.
Reproducing adolescents are no laughing matter until the body in question weighs her options by calling an abortion clinic over a hamburger phone. Juno MacGuff is a pipe-in-mouth, outspoken misfit who purportedly seduced her best friend out of boredom. Yet despite her slew of quick-witted remarks, she readily admits to not having all of the answers, letting her belly become proof of that.
The opening titles are a funky amalgamation of Xeroxed and cut up film, animated to guide the titular character around her busy little town. Reitman met the animators when they were both pushing films in the short fest circuit, and he has stuck with them ever since.
Beautifully quirky music envelops the film. Ellen Page (Hard Candy) insisted that her music snob character would appreciate the Moldy Peaches, and after a listen Reitman requested solo tracks from Kimya Dawson. Stream of consciousness lyrics fit perfectly with the film’s pop jive dialogue.
First-time writer Diablo Cody penned the story in a Target Starbucks, and though Reitman was in the middle of writing his own screenplay, he knew he had to snatch up such raw talent or he would regret it. Similar but not as heavy as the unique dialogue in Brick, Reitman explained that even though phrases may seem nonsensical, their implications are understood. He required actors who could deliver the words authentically, and the resulting cast succeeds.
Page is stellar in the mother-to-be role, supported by a cast who holds their own but must orbit around her character’s immensely likable personality and ever-expanding belly. Despite an offbeat outlook, Juno’s home life is stable from a supportive father and step-mom (J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney), but an absent mother causes her to question the flexibility of relationships. When she meets the Hallmark-worthy couple (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman) who would like to adopt her mishap, she rattles a few skeletons carefully boxed in their catalog-perfect home.
Confessing to be a stickler for perfect tone that does not teeter from excess in any direction, Reitman achieves balance as his story walks a thick line of intelligent comedy. Avoiding after-school-special pitfalls, Juno finds emotional stability through its realism and honesty. The girl of 16 may assume she knows all about underground music and obscure horror flicks, but years of maturity are needed in order to clarify the evolution of romantic connections.
The laughs come quick but are not shallow, and the cast lacks any display of caricature. Reitman proves yet again that he can handle a comically dense script enriched by smart insight.