Juno

Juno is a warm and sweet independent comedy. It is directed by Jason Reitman and the screenplay is written by Diablo Cody. It features some snappy dialog (which every once in a while is too smart alecky for its own good) and some fine acting. However, the plot is nothing out of the ordinary.

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is sixteen years old and curious about sex. She and her best friend Paulie (Michael Cera) decide to have a go at it. When she becomes pregnant she decides to have an abortion. But once she is in the clinic she changes her mind. She then decides to find a couple to give the baby to. When she tell her father Mac (J.K. Simmons) and step mother Bren (Allison Janney) they are very accepting of the situation and supportive of her choice. While looking through the Pennysaver Juno finds an attractive couple - Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark (Jason Bateman) - who want to adopt. Juno meets the couple (who have a beautiful house) and their lawyer and they draw up a contract regarding the adoption.

During this time Juno finds out quite a bit about herself and other people. There are some very funny moments in the film and also some very tender ones. I especially liked the scene in which Mac tells Juno how to know when a person really loves you. All of the acting is good. Page is definitely a young talent to watch although I sometimes had trouble believing that Juno was only sixteen. She just seemed older. And Janney is a marvel in her small role.

Juno is a good film but it just doesn't stand up to some of the year's best films. At least it is my opinion that it didn't. But go see it for yourself and make up your own mind about it.