Juno

New review from The Movie Snob

Juno (A-). The ample buzz around this little movie is, to my mind, completely justified. I guess it's sort of being billed as a comedy, but it's not laugh-out-loud funny. There are some things you smile or chuckle at, but I thought it was a very thoughtful movie about serious issues and about characters you easily come to care about. Ellen Page (X-Men: The Last Stand) plays 16-year-old Juno MacGuff, a precocious, pint-sized high-schooler who seduces her best friend Paulie (Michael Cera, Superbad) and promptly gets pregnant. She considers and quickly rules out an abortion, tells her dad and stepmom in a great scene, and decides to give her baby to a yuppie couple that is desperately seeking to adopt (Jennifer Garner, Elektra; Jason Bateman, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium). The movie basically takes us from conception to delivery, and Page carries the film like a pro. Sure, there are minor imperfections. Juno is a little too sophisticated for a 16-year-old. Although she and Paulie are supposedly best friends, it seems like they never talk about this rather significant development in their relationship. But these are just quibbles about a movie I really enjoyed. I'd also single out Garner, an actress I have never cared for, for a very nice performance. But they're all good. Go see it. (But do be warned -- it is pretty crude in spots. The PG-13 rating seems a little generous to me.)