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All Movie Info
Starring:
Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Olivia Thirlby, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Rainn Wilson, Cameron Bright, Steven Christopher Parker, Valerie Tian, Emily Tennant, Wendy Russell, Kaaren de Zilva, Lucas MacFadden, Candice Accola, Daniel Clark, Sierra Pitkin, Robyn Ross, Ross Tweedale, Ashley Whillans, Kaaren de Zilva
Directed By:
Jason Reitman
Written By:
Diablo Cody
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Juno (2007)
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Movie Review by Denise
January 4th, 2008
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Strong women, anyone?
I saw Juno today and I liked it as much as I thought I would. The main complaints I've been hearing about the film are the very things most of us love-- the dialogue, the witty pop culture references, the way that Juno is ballsy enough to decide what she wants to do and then owns it, Slinky t-shirt and all. And for anyone who says that the dialogue was unrealistic-- hey, it's a movie! If the characters talked the way that 16 year olds actually talk . . . well, it would be SO hard to sit thru. The same way that Gilmore Girls could pack 2 hours' worth of fast, hilarious, insightful dialogue into each 40-minute show, Juno has done the same. And that's fine, because it's a movie; it's supposed to be crafted. It doesn't have to be realistic. What was MUCH more unrealistic for me is the coolness with which the father and stepmother react to Juno's pregnancy. Not that I didn't love their reaction and supportiveness, because I did. I've just never seen that reaction in real life. And I'd love to, just once.
Great opening! Sunny D bottle, Chuck Taylor's, drawings, all of it. Intrusive and weird music cues. Also odd: the music discussed in the film (70s punk) was not used and instead we got Cat Power and Belle & Sebastian. Bleck. I DO like that Velvet Underground song, though, but it'll be stuck in my head for days . . .
As we left the theater, I asked my boyfriend's 11 year old son which of the characters were strong, and it was decided that Juno's father was the only strong male character, and while the others were likeable, even adorable, they were kind of weiners. Interesting. The female characters were all strong and admirable, especially Vanessa (Garner) which may come as kind of a surprise.
The main complaint of the 11 year old boy: it'sweird that Juno was considered such a weirdo in her school but her best pal, Leah, is a cute, popular cheerleader type. Ah, perspective. (But Leah, as you'll see, has issues of her own, and high school kids are not good at forgiving others' issues. Maybe Juno was the only one willing).
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 | Bobby B
Mar 26, 2008 5:02 PM
also wrote a review of Juno 
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| I had the exact same reaction to the parents attitude towards Juno's pregnancy. By the end of the movie though, like you, it felt more refreshing to have a movie about teen-age pregnancy where everyone (pretty much) behaved decently and the girl wasn't a victim. Maybe those are the kind of parents who create a child like Juno. I disagree about the male characters just in terms of the (kind of) boyfriend. There's no doubt that Juno was the driving force by the relationship but the fact that he never turns on her, does stand up to her when she's letting him have it, does so without turning mean, is constantly willing to risk his heart for her, and is there for her when she finally decides to come to him, are all examples of a boy growing into a man and finding his strength. |
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