Juno (***1/4)

A funny, smart tale of a funny, smart girl (Ellen Page) who becomes pregnant and, after first deciding to “procure a hasty abortion,” opts instead to give the baby to an upscale suburban couple (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman). The comedic drama succeeds by never becoming a “problem” movie. Indeed, Juno is so bright and careful, it seemed like she would’ve gotten on the pill months before having sex with her kinda-sorta boyfriend (Michael Cera). In any case, the story is more about Juno’s relationships with him and with the couple than about self-examination or teen pregnancy as an issue. Page, who essayed the equally self-assured lead in Hard Candy, has a wise-beyond-her-years quality (and speaking voice) that serves well. Juno might have been a friend to the acerbic duo in Ghost World, my vote as the best teen seriocomedy. Other than the fact that Juno decides against the abortion, first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody steers clear of the clichés you might expect and creates a unique voice for the character, though I did find the dialogue affected toward the beginning. For the director, Jason Reitman, it’s a worthy follow-up to Thank You for Smoking.

IMDB link

reviewed 12/08/07