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Juno (2007)

Director: Jason Reitman

Time Out rating

Average user rating

94 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

www.timeout.com

Don’t look to Jason Reitman’s multi-Oscar-nominated second film for a tell-it-how-it-is window on teenage pregnancy nor a two-finger salute to the anti-abortion right. Ignore, too, its ‘Ghost World’-styled ‘indie’ clothing. Rising star Ellen Page, dressed down and knocked-up, admittedly, gives a confident performance as the eponymous 16-year-old, put-down-queen heroine with the impressive ’70s-era taste (The Stooges, Dario Argento horror).

But, just as her supposedly ‘counter-cultural’ profile looks like an assembly from a studio’s cultural dressing department, so does her endless series of screwball-sharp quips, clever quotes and wise-before-her-years aphorisms often seem to emanate from another body entirely – presumably that of devilish scriptwriter and ex-Pussy Ranch blogster Diablo Cody. ‘Very beautiful and very mean, like Diana Ross,’ is how Juno describes the Roman god for whom she is named – how funny, high- school and 16 is that?

The most you can say about ‘Juno’ – given you can ignore the film’s air of contrivance, self-consciousness and cake-and-eat-it attitude to social and moral issues (most clearly seen in the abortion clinic scene, where Juno decides to keep ‘the thing’ because of the centre’s unpleasant smell) – is that it at least tries to inject some wit and engagement into the tired teen ‘coming-of-age’ comedy.

The direction, surprisingly for the supposedly ‘edgy’ material, is conventional, but the acting offers compensations. Allison Janney and JK Simmons (as stepmom and sympathetic dad) are engaging, despite their parts being rather obvious counter-caricatures; and Michael Cera is sweet and believable as geeky impregnator Paulie.

Author: Wally Hammond 2007-10-22 15:14:00

Time Out London Issue 1955 Feb 6 to 13, 2008

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User reviews of this film

abbie adams said...

Posted on Mar 07 2008 11:09 this was the best film i have ever in my life it was so cool man show it again please

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Kautz said...

Posted on Mar 06 2008 13:37 Best film I've seen this year. Maybe if you're a cynical reviewer who gets upset by unrealistic dialogue you won't like it - but then you can find something to not like about any film if you try.

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sian said...

Posted on Mar 05 2008 12:58 John and Nikki are muppets and obviously don't appreciate a good down to earth film when they see one. This film is funny and emotional it captures the essence of teenage pregnancy and the wanting child of the adoptive mother perfectly. It's simple but affective and a film with emotion it's a prime example of a brilliant indie flick. Ellen page performs flawlessly and grabs your attention from the opening line 'it began with a chair'. If your a indie flick lover this film is one not to miss.

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Martin Abbott said...

Posted on Mar 04 2008 23:08 Superb, witty, intelligent and a general feel good with a great music track. If you dont like this I believe you must have some intelligence chip taken out. Watch it you will enjoy the quirky funny and feel good factor of this film

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jess said...

Posted on Mar 03 2008 17:38 i feel sorry of those of you who didn't get this film. i don't know what you were like in high school, but i was actually like that. grow a brain. this film was the first real portrayal of a high school girl i've seen since the virgin suicides. well done for recognizing not all teenagers are stupid.

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JohnP said...

Posted on Mar 03 2008 14:23 Absolute rubbish. Not funny, slow and an insult to anyone’s intelligence above the IQ of 2. Wanted to give no stars but not allowed to so I give one star for the camera man who had to work all the way through this boring film. Totally agree with Nikki

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Niki said...

Posted on Mar 02 2008 14:52 I watched about 15 minutes of this film and I had to walk out. Juno has a bigger vocabulary than most 50 year olds and she is still silly enough to fall pregnant. Moreover she has a burger for a phone which is a prime example of the pretentious nature of the film 'Look at me, look at me, I'm such a nonchalant teenager.' Contrived and insulting. Dawson's Creek (but less natural) for the big screen.

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x..hannah..x said...

Posted on Mar 02 2008 09:31 I LOVE THIS FILM I WENT TO SEE IT WIFE MA M8S AND HELL YEAH ITS GREAT!☆☆☆☆☆☆**********

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lisa s said...

Posted on Mar 01 2008 23:09 i loved this film it was ace both me and fella enjoyed it i cudnt help but cry at the end but i loved it havnt seen a better film in years go junoooooooooooooooo

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BM said...

Posted on Mar 01 2008 21:34 I haven't seen the movie, I just want to comment that this review is ridiculous. The reviever tells us nothing about the movie but seems interested in impression other reviewers.

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Hate Wally said...

Posted on Mar 01 2008 17:00 Well done Wally for providing another example of how far some critics are from public opinion.

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Stephanie said...

Posted on Feb 29 2008 13:46 this movie was amazing is there anything else to say

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Connor . G said...

Posted on Feb 28 2008 15:27 This Film Is the best ignore all the idiots hu sed its S**T it rocks woop! woop!

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Katie said...

Posted on Feb 28 2008 10:32 THE FILM IS AWESOME!! ignore all the retards that said it was rubbish - it ROCKS! as does the soundtrack!

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critique said...

Posted on Feb 27 2008 15:36 Can`t believe that people have been awarding this film 5 or 6 stars. Just goes to show that we all see different things in different movies. Simply a very average film, nothing special at all. I`m mystified by the hype and the claims of excellence.

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