| Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek (at the Toronto International Film Festival 2007) Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, JK Simmons, Olivia Thirlby In the somewhat cautionary tale of a "cautionary whale" - the very pregnant, not-so-sweet 16-year-old Juno (Ellen Page) - teen pregnancy is debated as being more dire-some to modern parents than DWIs, hard drugs or school expulsion. Despite a tough subject that some audiences may suggest is treated trivially by virtue of the movie's humor, the truth of the matter is there is more function than frivolity in this family. And even though Dad refers to his pregnant offspring as a "puffy version" of Juno, this is one of those rare families able to communicate with each other, and who support each other regardless of the circumstances. Topping even the charming and charismatic characters portrayed by the peerless Ellen Page (is there anything she can't do???), Olivia Thirlby, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Alison Janney, JK Simmons and Superbad's super-hero, Michael Cera, somehow the literary language of this film manages to trump the terrific talent on display as the true star of a film that should have "cult classic" written all over it. Brimming with screen gems such as "food-babies," "time-sucks," "fertile myrtles," "pork swords," loose running shorts and an over-indulgence in tangy orange tic tacs, the film's ingenuity may force Webster's to publish a post-Diablo Cody version of its famed reference book. With the success of last year's Thank You For Smoking, the pressure of a sophomore effort seems to suit helmer Jason Reitman. His choice to move from satirizing the corporate puffery of Big Tobacco and the entertainment industry to Juno's smaller town environs reveals Reitman's range, and his observations remain just as sharp as in his award-winning debut. He lets the audience stop laughing only long enough to wring tears. While comedy ensembles are often overlooked for accolades, Juno's masterful word-smithery and the efforts of Ellen Page deserve to be singled out for superlatives. To think that Fox Searchlight has been responsible for both of Reitman's efforts, in addition to Little Miss Sunshine, cements the indie studio's position at the pinnacle of the laugh heap. If Judd Apatow (slapstick) and Reitman (satire) are the new smartest comedic voices of our cinema, we eagerly await their insight into how humor complements recent dramatic explorations of the human condition. And may audiences also think so! Image courtesy of Fox Searchlight. |
