Tanya’s Score: Good-and-a-half*
Rated: 14A
Starring: a cute, fast-talking, diminutive Canadian; a sweet and bumbling, slightly taller Canadian; Jason Bateman
Plot: A pregnant teenager named Juno (Ellen Page) develops an unusual relationship with the couple (Jennifer Garner; Jason Bateman) who plans to adopt her unborn baby.
Tanya’s Verdict: Despite dealing with some heavy emotional issues, this movie comes off as light and airy. Ellen Page is cute and funny; Michael Cera is cute and funny and on this rare occasion, Jason Bateman is cold and off-putting.
The plot of Juno is really nothing special – for me, the characters are what make this movie. I especially love J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as Juno’s concerned, supportive yet imperfect parents.
There’s a scene near the end of the movie between father and daughter – just after Juno’s given birth. It’s a short, seemingly inconsequential scene – but it speaks volumes about the father/daughter relationship between Juno and her dad. Her father’s love for her comes through in these few minutes onscreen. It is the scene that has stayed with me since I first saw Juno in the theatres.
My girls both liked it as well.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great