Juno

A comedy-drama centred on teen pregnancy doesn’t sound like your typical highbrow Oscar bait.

However, the Academy, and many other awards bodies and critics groups, have dished out plenty of love for Juno. 21 year old actress Ellen Page received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as the title character, Juno was nominated for Best Film and Best Director, and the film scooped the Best Original Screenplay award.

Still, you always have to approach these highly acclaimed sorts of film with caution, given how overrated they can become as every critic jumps on the praise bandwagon.

I’m happy to report that Juno is not a disappointment. However, audiences do need to be aware from the outset that Juno in NOT another Knocked Up. If you walk into the cinema expecting a laugh-out-loud comedy with plenty of sexually explicit dialogue, you will be let down.


Juno is a thoughtful little film, with plenty of emotional bite and a sweet romance thrown in for good measure. If you find the topic of unwanted pregnancy off-putting as movie subject matter, then you’ll be pleased to know that Juno actually isn’t really about teen pregnancy. So there is no morning sickness, antenatal class scenes, leaking nipples or cot shopping. Rather, the film, like its tagline, is about “Growing up… and the bumps along the way.”

Although Ellen Page is excellent as Juno MacGuff, it’s only really as the film progresses that her tough, smart mouth exterior melts and the audience warms to her as a real person and not a cliché. Juno makes the big decision regarding her pregnancy rather flippantly, and it’s only as time passes that she develops the maturity to evaluate her chosen path, consider the feelings and sacrifices of others, and in turn make some even tougher choices.


What really sold the movie for me is the supporting cast, all of whom are likeable but real. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney turn in great performances (as usual) as Juno’s fantastically supportive, but always practical, parents. Jennifer Garner is especially impressive in a heartfelt, serious role that allows her to escape her usual goofball and action heroine typecasting. And I challenge any young woman not to fall in love with Superbad’s Michael Cera in this movie.

I’ll admit now that Juno made me cry, but the film is emotionally affecting without being at all manipulative. I don’t think the film will impress everyone, but if you need a change from the violence, cynicism and oppressiveness that so usually defines “realistic” cinema, Juno offers a warm, sweet alternative. You will leave the cinema in a good mood.