Juno (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing Juno
, a movie about a high school girl who finds herself pregnant and in over her head.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: I loved this movie. This is one of the best things I have seen this year. It’s funny and heartfelt, with some of the best dialogue I have laughed at.
And you?
Scott: I really enjoyed it. It wasn't the comedy I thought it would be, but more of a charming quirky flick.
The dialogue really flowed through the movie. It was funny, but the movie didn't wait for the laughs to stop, it just continued on with the scene.
Mike: Even though this movie is also about an unplanned pregnancy, I would have to call this the "anti-Knocked Up".
I thought Knocked Up was great, but a completely different animal.
Scott: Yes, I thought the humor would be similar to that, or to Superbad. The movies are different genres for sure.
Mike: I'm actually glad it wasn't. It was great to laugh hard at something that was clever as opposed to crude. Don't get me wrong, I love my crude humor. Are you listening Kevin Smith?
Scott: The movie stars Ellen Page as a 16 year old high school student Juno MacGuff who, seemingly, on a whim decides to have sex with her good friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). They do it once and she gets pregnant (it can happen like that in real life too).
Mike: Ellen Page stands out in this film.
Scott: Initially, I thought the movie would be a take on the pro-life/pro-choice debate, but it dealt with that issue easily and in a funny way.
Mike: Juno is very together for being a 16 year old. She knows she has a problem and comes up with a solution on her own.
Scott: She was good. She came across as immature and childish at times and she seemed to know she wasn't capable of handling the situation she found herself in. Page played the role perfectly.
Mike: I didn't recognize her from anything else, but did you realize she played Kitty Pride in the X-Men: The Last Stand?
Scott: I saw that on IMDB, but didn't realize it at the time.
Mike: For being a relative unknown, I think she does a great job carrying this movie. She brings a lot of depth to a challenging role. I think we will see her again as a lead very soon.
Scott: Cera's role was very similar to his role in Superbad, a shy, quiet kid. I enjoyed his parts in the movie, but his role was minor overall.
Mike: Cera has a knack for being funny just playing the shy nerd who tries to act like he has it all together. I have been a fan of this kid since Arrested Development.
Scott: I'd like to see some different roles for him in the future, to really see what he can do.
Mike: Oddly enough, one of the other stars of the film was Jason Bateman, who played Cera's dad on Arrested Development.
Scott: His character, Mark Loring and Jennifer Garner's character, Vanessa Loring, are looking to adopt Juno's baby. Mark starts off as a cool guy, but gets a little different as the movie progresses.
Mike: This is the second time we have seen Bateman and Garner together this year. They are both part of the excellent ensemble of The Kingdom.
This might be the first time we have seen Bateman when he wasn't supposed to be funny. He is usually the comic relief, even in action movies like The Kingdom or Smokin' Aces.
Anyone who has read our reviews already knows that I am in love with Jennifer Garner. So I won't gush. I will note that this might be the first time I have seen her where she doesn't cry.
Scott: The Loring's have been trying to have a child for 5 years and had no luck, then along came Juno. The reaction Juno's parents give when they find out their daughter is pregnant is great. J.K. Simmons is her dad Mac MacGuff and her stepmom Bren is played by Allison Janney. Every time I see Simmons I think of his role as the white supremisist in Oz, a very disturbing role.
Mike: Not having seen Oz, I'll go with J Jonah Jameson (Spiderman) and CJ Craig (West Wing).
I think they round out a well thought out cast.
Scott: I think you’re right about the cast. This movie may be one of the few movies that the critics and fans like.
I enjoyed the soundtrack too. It was fun and quirky just like the movie. I enjoy interesting music that fits a movie and I really think this soundtrack fit this movie.
Mike: I was probably least impressed by the soundtrack. This was certainly no Garden State musically. On the other hand, I loved the rhythm of the conversations in this movie. It has its own slang that is as clever as Swingers was years ago.
Scott: Director Jason Reitman also did the movie I really liked, Thank You for Smoking. It's nice to see another quality film come from him, showing he's not a one hit wonder.
Mike: Reitman definitely has his father Ivan Reitman's talent, without being a copy of dear old dad. I also loved Thank You for Smoking and hope that Jason keeps turning out work of this caliber.
It looks like this was screenwriter Diablo Cody's first movie, but I will be watching out for her.
Scott: That's pretty cool that this is her first. She must have done something prior to this since she has appeared on David Letterman.
Mike: I am now curious to dig up some of his earlier work and check it out.
Scott: Apparently, she is a writer as well and it was a book of hers, Candy Girl. That got her on Letterman.
Mike: It looks like Cody and Reitman are working on a new project together called The United States of Tara. That is now on my radar.
So how do you rate this?
Scott: I give this a 4 for a drama and a 4 overall. It was what I like to see in a movie.
And you?
Mike: I give this movie a 4.5 overall and a 4 for comedy/drama.
I want to see more movies like this. The feeling of this movie reminded me of Waitress.
Scott: Juno you should check out this movie.
