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Bookmark this pageJuno (2007)
Director: Jason Reitman
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
Time Out London Issue 1955 Feb 6 to 13, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- Kiel said...
- Posted on Feb 18 2008 18:49 Dissapointing taking into account the major marketing campaign and hype behind the film. Got very boring and there were unrealistic responses considering such a serious issue. It attempts to be a black comedy but just ends up dragging on and I only smiled once let alone laughed. Soundtrack is very annoying also.
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- spm said...
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Posted on Feb 18 2008 04:48
Absolute pro-life propaganda.
Please think about the abortion clinic scene - Was the "bad girl" behind the clinic desk realistic? The "good girl" protesting outside? The image of the fetus' fingernails was clear. The message was clear.
Yes, I agree, there were some great moments. Perfect propaganda. - Report as inappropriate
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- katie said...
- Posted on Feb 17 2008 19:24 this film was rubbish. it was realy boring becaues it just wnt on and on. nothing realy happens exept a girl gets pregnant. not a gd film!!!!!
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- tony said...
- Posted on Feb 17 2008 13:16 well my gf dragged me to see this film. and i am glad she did. it is actually really good to watch, and deffinatly more than a 2star rating.
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- amii said...
- Posted on Feb 16 2008 20:28 what age certificate is this film?
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- Marisa said...
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Posted on Feb 15 2008 09:45
I loved this movie, the script is brilliant and very witty, the scenes are all well thought out and Ellen Page is a breath of fresh air.
Well worth it! - Report as inappropriate
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- dave from essex said...
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Posted on Feb 15 2008 08:16
i am not femaleand i loved it because its not an everyday comedy, everyone had good acting skills in this film, especially juno.
this is a very good film and a must see for everyone
when it comes out on dvd im going to tesco and buying it at full price. i cant not wait for the day ;D;D.............. - Report as inappropriate
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- Jenny said...
- Posted on Feb 14 2008 23:55 Absolute RUBBISH!!!! i left half way thru!!!!!!!
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- Theodor said...
- Posted on Feb 14 2008 17:05 This film is awesome, a typical oscar comedy, low on belly laughs, but high on smart and sophisticated humour. This film is purely a feel-good movie, great acting from all involved, especially ellen page who deserves the oscar in my opinion. The fact it doesnt have many 'stars' is irrelevent, look at love actually full of so called 'stars' and it was a big cheesy turd! In my opinion Juno is subtle and brilliant, you need 2 see it to know what i mean.
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- Colin said...
- Posted on Feb 14 2008 12:30 Big disappointment. Mildly amusing in bits, but those have already been seen in the trailers. If you have to chose between this or another film, do the other.
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- Rachel said...
- Posted on Feb 13 2008 19:02 This Is So Funny Ya Will Piss Ya Self Its About A 16 Year Old Girl And She Gets Pergate
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- Amnah said...
- Posted on Feb 13 2008 17:15 Amazing! I think this one word is enough to describe the movie. and i think only girls can understand the meaning of it :) coz guys cant be a mother...or get pregnant :D...but u never knw the science :D...
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- lauren n lucy said...
- Posted on Feb 13 2008 14:55 omg this film looks and is RUBISH dont watch it
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- Abbie And Victoria said...
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Posted on Feb 12 2008 21:15
Ummmm.... We want to see it but we have a slight problem.
Well... We might see cloverfield insteadd
Eeeeeekkkkkk
(:
LOL.
x - Report as inappropriate
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- danni said...
- Posted on Feb 11 2008 18:38 really goood
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Cast & crew
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney full cast
Duration: 92 mins
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