DVD : Juno (Single-Disc Edition)

Rating: - just a well-rounded quality film
This is *exactly* the perfect movie for someone like me. Simple movies like this one, with a relaxing story, and easy to follow twists, all while taking place in a small town. Admit it, that's why you love movies too :)

It was just a lot of fun watching it, and seeing all the popular faces as the story rolled along. I used to love Arrested Development, and was surprised to see the father and son from that show both playing major roles in the movie, and of course, the beautiful Jennifer Garner, and the best surprise of all, the teenage daughter, who was the lead actrees, named Ellen Page. She was funny, witty, and interesting the entire time. I loved her role and expect to see more of her in the future.

A VERY good movie.

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Rating: - Very well-done
Sixteen-year-old Juno (Ellen Page) finds herself knocked up after her first sexual experience with her BFF, Paulie (Michael Cera). Abortion seems like the easy way out, but when Juno arrives at the clinic for her appointment, she finds that she can't go through with it. Instead, she decides to give the baby up for adoption to a wealthy couple, Mark and Vanessa (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), who are unable to have children of their own. As Juno experiences the many ups and downs of pregnancy, she must come to terms with her feelings toward her unborn baby, the baby's father, and the adoptive parents. It soon becomes clear that the adoption process isn't nearly as simple as Juno hoped it would be, and she must deal with a lot of grown-up issues very quickly.

I was very impressed by this film. Page gives an outstanding performance that is both wickedly funny and deeply emotional. Her characterization of Juno is very understated and yet incredibly powerful, and she steals every scene that she's in. The movie also boasts an impressive supporting cast, including J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as Juno's father and stepmother. Although "Juno" is classified as a comedy, it's very bittersweet and downright depressing at times. The ending seems a bit too neat and tidy, but for most of the movie, the filmmakers dealt with a very sensitive topic in a very honest and emotional way. This is a very good movie that I recommend.

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Rating: - Very Unconventional but it works.
In my opinion this is a very good film. I am rating it a five because although slightly unconventional it really did work.


The dialogue is at times smart, but most importantly it gives depth to its characters.


Juno's character is not main stream or linear at all- she is smart, rebellious, independent and happy to be an outcast. She is also mature for a 16 year old, though she doesn't seem to think so. She becomes pregnant at 16 and well the film is basically about how she confronts and deals with her problem. Her solution- not typical Hollywood at all. Thus, why it originated as an independent film- great writing.

There is Paulie, a loser (not necessarily in the bad sense- he is very sweet) by most people's standards and the unborns daddy. You don't see much of him but when he is on screen its basically to build on the dynamic of the relationship that he has with Juno. Once more the ending, how things end up is in a sense not conventional for Hollywood, in another typical Hollywood- but hey we love that sort of stuff.

Vanessa and Mark are pretty standard characters but their relationship (they are husband and wife) takes a twist.

Bren and Mac are the loving and supportive parents (one is a step parent) of Juno.


The film is smart and well written. The end of the film pulls at the heart strings (I teared a bit.)

I would say that this film is a good film for adults, and def something that can be shown to ages 12+ (assuming you are not a very conservative parent.)

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Rating: - A Teen Comedy with Heart (and a Brain)
I don't know if it made any difference, but I watched SUPERBAD before I saw JUNO.

SUPERBAD is one wretchedly unfunny movie. It delivers on nothing. No laughs, no nudity, no fun. The scenes in that movie only insult the viewer as it plods along in excessive bad language and mind-numbing pointlessness.

Then I watched JUNO. Quirky dialogue, interestingly apolotical plot, genuine characters, refreshingly involving scenes. Wow, what a difference. It's a fine Indie-styled comedy-drama that just happens to center on a teenage girl. I'm definitely not a fan of the minimalist folk soundtrack but...it fits this movie. And didn't keep me from enjoying it.

Worth seeing.

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Rating: - Good, But Not Great
The Art of Storytelling: How To Write A Story....Any Story
Shadow Watcher
Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake

JUNO, as those of you who follow the Oscars know, was 2007's "little picture" that became a major hit, just like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE did the year before.

Juno is a 16-year-old girl who gets pregnant, after having sex just once, then she looks (in the PennySaver) for a couple to adopt the yet-to-be-born child.

Perhaps my expectations were just too high after all the good things I'd heard about the movie, but frankly, I was a bit disappointed after watching it on DVD.

The movie is okay, pleasant, has some laughs and many good performances, particularly Ellen Page's who plays the title role. But, I don't think it deserved to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, nor do I think it should have been nominated for Best Picture.

Aside from the fact that JUNO was a bit long and predictable, I had additional problems with the picture.

I love a funny line in a movie, and there are many potentially funny lines in this film, mostly delivered by Ms. Page. The problem is that many of these lines seem to be there just to elicit a laugh, and they don't appear to be something that Juno or one of the other characters would say. In other words, they sound forced...not real.

Also, the emotions (or lack of same) in many scenes do not ring true. Such as, when Juno tells her parents that she is pregnant, they appear far too calm to be believable.

Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons, who play the parents, are both fine performers, so the culprit(s) here must be director Jason Reitman and/or Oscar-winning screenwriter, Diablo Cody.

I'm not saying that JUNO isn't a lot of fun. It is. It's just not the "greatest thing since chopped liver".

Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play the adopting couple, and Michael Cera is the young father.

© Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (available December 2008)