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It managed to snag four major Oscar nominations, including the Best
Picture, and ended up wining the Best Original Screenplay.
But what is truly impressive about "Juno" is that it is a
small movie, and though it takes on a grand theme of an issue like child
pregnancy, the movie manages to be breezy, refreshing and at times very
touching.
Director Jason Rietman understands that the script by Diablo Cody,
a stripper- turned scriptwriter, is the strong point of the movie, which
is served with snappy, witty dialogue.
He has also been blessed with a great cast, none of whom tried too
hard and realised that they were to serve the story.
Juno (Ellen Page) is a smart 16-year-old girl, who gets pregnant when
she has sex with her best friend Paulie (Michael Cera). She initially
decides to have an abortion but chickens out and looks for a well-off
couple seeking to adopt her child. She befriends the couple but things
change drastically and she finds herself in situations where she is
required to be too mature for her age.
For those viewers who have strong opinions about values and cultural
norms, watching a pretentious teen going through a serious life situation
using flip remarks and pop culture references can be unsettling.
But the dialogue is clearly one of the most entertaining aspects of
the movie. The banter among characters seems spontaneous, and the use
of irony as a defence mechanism seems apt.
The actors have great material to work with. J.K. Simmons and Alisson
Janney play very supportive and understanding parents that any teen
would love to have. Justin Bateman and Jennifer Garner play the young
and rich couple seeking to adopt a child.
Along with Page being the find of the movie, Garner with her restrained
performance is quite a pleasant surprise. She shares a very touching
scene with Page at the mall, which is easily one of the most memorable
scenes.
The first quarter of the movie sets itself up and looks like it will
walk down the familiar path of cliché platitudes and uplifting
fare. Even the snappy dialogues in the first twenty minutes or so threaten
to become irritating.
But once Juno visits the couple, the movie manages to evoke more emotions
and pays respect to the complexity and pain involved in such a situation.
The comic aspect of the movie makes it seems like it is skirting some
very serious issues, but scenes like Juno taking a break on the side
of the road just to weep show that the movie understands her plight.
The movie avoids getting itself entangled in some potentially divisive
issues like abortion, adoption and teenage sexuality.
The themes are so divisive that it will be interesting to see how viewers
from different cultures like India will receive this film. The fact
that the movie doesn't take a clear stand, let alone hit you on the
head with a message, makes it easier to embrace.
It seeks to please, not to preach.
