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Film XXVIII: Jason Reitman, Juno (2007)
The Canadian son of the director of the Ghostbusters movies produces a deeply impressive comedy about teenage pregnancy. Juno (Ellen Page) is pregnant, and having been freaked out at the abortion clinic, decides to put her embryo up for adoption - in this case by yuppie couple Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) and Mark Loring (Jason Bateman). Meanwhile she has to deal with the father of the baby (Michael Cera).
Scriptwriter Diablo Cody puts some sharp lines into Juno's mouth - at moments I was reminded of Heathers, and to some extent Josie and the Pussy Cats. Whilst it's clear she doesn't know every thing, and that she has her moments of despair, Juno is in control: trusted to do the right thing by her father (J.K. Simmons), defended by her step mom (Allison Jannie, brilliant as always), deferred to by her boyfriend, mistrusted by Venessa (and I think the film is rather against her character's demands) and seductive of Mark Loring. I half expected these two characters to end up together.
I had high hopes for this film and I wasn't disappointed. Even minor roles, like a nerdy lab partner, seemed richly written. Maybe Juno's family was too supportive to be credible, but she was clearly a character who demanded and deserved trust. And at about 96 minutes, just about the right length.
Totals: 28 [Cinema: 10; DVD: 17; TV: 1]
Housekeeping: on course for 112 this year. I'm speeding up.
The Canadian son of the director of the Ghostbusters movies produces a deeply impressive comedy about teenage pregnancy. Juno (Ellen Page) is pregnant, and having been freaked out at the abortion clinic, decides to put her embryo up for adoption - in this case by yuppie couple Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) and Mark Loring (Jason Bateman). Meanwhile she has to deal with the father of the baby (Michael Cera).
Scriptwriter Diablo Cody puts some sharp lines into Juno's mouth - at moments I was reminded of Heathers, and to some extent Josie and the Pussy Cats. Whilst it's clear she doesn't know every thing, and that she has her moments of despair, Juno is in control: trusted to do the right thing by her father (J.K. Simmons), defended by her step mom (Allison Jannie, brilliant as always), deferred to by her boyfriend, mistrusted by Venessa (and I think the film is rather against her character's demands) and seductive of Mark Loring. I half expected these two characters to end up together.
I had high hopes for this film and I wasn't disappointed. Even minor roles, like a nerdy lab partner, seemed richly written. Maybe Juno's family was too supportive to be credible, but she was clearly a character who demanded and deserved trust. And at about 96 minutes, just about the right length.
Totals: 28 [Cinema: 10; DVD: 17; TV: 1]
Housekeeping: on course for 112 this year. I'm speeding up.
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