Juno (Single-Disc Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Juno (Single-Disc Edition)
Movie Review: What a lovely little story this is!
Summary: 5 Stars
I tend to comment on films, and other products, that are surprising - in a good or in a bad way. And Juno happens to be surprisingly good.
Juno is a simple and lovely film about a 16-year-old mother-to-be who has a limited number of people she can rely on in her new condition and limited number of options to resolve her situation: practically, abortion or adoption. Juno shows that with determination love and life are possible to maintain even in a hostile environment.
I read through the 35 reviews (so far) and wish to address two of the critical reviews that do seem to carry valid points: 1. All males in the movie are completely immature and the only supportive people are females. But... this is with notable exception of the boyfriend's mom, a female school librarian, a female ultrasound technician and female schoolmates, and so it's not an anti-male/pro-female setup. 2. Adoption is presented as the noblest of options and simply "keeping the baby" in the family is never taken into consideration. However, the future surrogate mother is presented as someone truly able and deserving to adopt a baby. Thankfully, none of these points get politicized in the story; that's why I predict that Juno will not be getting an Oscar, although it certainly deserves a few. I guess these days Oscars (and Nobles) are reserved for individuals like Al Gore.
There are instances of offensive language in Juno, but these are valid part of the plot. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: "My heart beats faster every time I see you"
Summary: 5 Stars
What a wonderful movie. First, Ellen Page deserves an Oscar nomination for her brilliant performance. She is a breath of fresh air, almost single handedly carrying this film from start to finish, appearing in almost every scene. She plays Juno, a high school misfit who comes from your "average" dysfunctional family -- mom left when she was young, father remarries and has another daughter. Juno and Paul (Michael Cera) have sex and she gets pregnant. At first she contemplates abortion, but instead decides to give the baby up for adoption. She finds a yuppie couple, played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner, looking to adopt since the wife is unable to have a child. Both Garner and Bateman gives strong supporting performances.
Sure, the plot doesn't sound like much, but the plot isn't what makes this movie special. The screenplay and writing are superb and Page is a revelation. At times, I was worried that the movie would turn sentimental but it never does. And alternatively, the movie never gets too full or smart for itself -- coming close but never quite crossing the line. And all the performances are top notch -- with J.K Simmons and Alison Janney wonderful as Juno's father and stepmother respectively.
If you like well-written and well-acted movies, be sure to see Juno, it won't disappoint. This was well worth the $9.75 ticket. At the least, you'll certainly be witnessing a breakout performance by a future star in Ellen Page.
Movie Review: Surprisingly sweet
Summary: 5 Stars
It starts as one of those everyday dramas, a teenage girl finds herself pregnant. Her first thought is to end the pregnancy but, when the time comes, she shies and bolts from the clinic for no rational reason. Instead, she decides to bring the baby to term and find a good home for it.
Even when she's as big as "a planet" (and equally inhabited), Juno keeps her sassy attitude and sarcastic humor. Her character, played wonderfully well by Ellen Page, carries the movie with her one-liners and attitude. Like the other characters, Juno comes across as complex and believable, fragile and resilient at the same time. Her social world seems true too, almost a closed society of teenagers with incidental and often uncomfortable interactions with the adults.
This might be the most improbable feel-good movie ever. In fact that would be the one criticism I'd offer, that it seems a bit more "cleaned up" than I'd expect many lives to be. The teenagers are goofy, gawky, and uncertain, but never show the vicious edge that comes out way too frequently. Her whole world is largely supportive, or at least benign. I don't wish a pregnancy on any teenager, but I'd wish that kind of support for any who do end up as mommy-to-be, the kind of support that too few girls in trouble seem to get. That happy background keeps makes the comedy possible, and the edgy humor makes this movie succeed.
-- wiredweird, reviewing the theatrical release
Movie Review: THUNDERCATS ARE GO !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Seven things I loved about JUNO:
1. The dialogue. Uproariously funny.
2. Rainn Wilson's small part as Rollo, the store clerk.
3. For a 16-year-old, Juno makes some bravely mature choices after her initial irresponsibility.
4. Juno's faded "Slinky" t-shirt.
5. The soundtrack. Not bad at all.
6. The one overtly "pro-life" character does not seem to be Hollywood's usual dreadful caricature of a minatory fire-breathing Bible-thumper; rather, she is an endearing Asian girl with a quiet manner and a slight problem forming past participles. It made us smile.
7. (and this point is perhaps the most important) There is a breadth of compassion in this film for quirky societal misfits that I find quite refreshing.
Any points against the film? Juno MacGuff is, shall we say, resolutely snarky, and some might find this a bit off-putting. (I didn't find her off-putting in the least!) The dialogue -- which I thought was hilarious -- can be lost on viewers of a different generation (I can picture some of my older relatives saying, "Thundercats are go? What does that mean? Something's going over my head."). I had been warned by one viewer that this film did not live up to his expectations, or to the "hype." But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked Juno, the MacGuff family, and the offbeat universe of this film. Recommended.
Movie Review: Reitman has made the darling film of the decade
Summary: 5 Stars
Juno extends beyond cheap comedy and wired lines of dialogue and becomes a movie that touches you deeper than your layer of skin. I didn't think so at first, and many think so, but this movie grew on me and I ended up liking this movie in the end. Jennifer Garner gave a surprisingly good performance and Ellen Page was perfect and not just because she's a fresh face. I don't suppose too many can walk the line of innocence and ironic baseness, and Ellen walks that quirky line throughout. The movie also has that same discription: a sort of quirky genius to it that is fresh and straight out of left field. I've read that today's audience screams for change. That we are in a transitional phase, and that the continued, surprising success of the very different film Juno, sort of is a calling card of this generation. It's a pivotal movie and its overrecognition must be credited to that! I adore this film and I do not believe my own statement above of being overrecognized, but it's what I must use to describe the number of nominations this movie has been attached with. In a field of such serious and handsdown masterpieces such as this years unforgetable "there will be blood', it's common place to see film experts sort of insulted to see Juno on the voting ballet. I cannot say that this is our 16teen candles or Breakfast club, but I guess I can say it is the darling film of this decade.