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Juno (2007)

1 star

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John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 01 2008 08:27 PM

When a geeky Minnesota teen gets pregnant, hijinx ensue. Without giving any more away, I definitely recommend you see it so we can discuss it. For now, I give it a huge thumbs up with a few little "buts."

Edgy MD Jan 01 2008 08:32 PM

You're in the midst of the Accidental Pregnancy Film Fest, aren't you? It's Immediate Family on Friday and then a Saturday matinee of The Snapper.

metirish Jan 02 2008 06:58 AM

I've heard great things about this movie and after seeing this kid in Superbad I wanted to see this movie. Not sure when I will see it though, probably on DVD.

Carnac the Metnificent Jan 02 2008 02:50 PM

A: Juno Q: What does Omar Minaya say just before WhatImSayin' ?

Valadius Jan 06 2008 09:28 AM

This was a FANTASTIC film. I highly recommend it. Ellen Page's performance is Oscar-worthy.

OlerudOwned Jan 07 2008 05:44 PM

I've missed seeing this movie twice now because of poor timing and circumstance. It's Superbad all over again.

Chad Ochoseis Jan 07 2008 06:29 PM

I saw it two weeks ago - it was my "It's Christmas and I'm Jewish and there's nothing else to do" movie. Cute. Sweet. Heartwarming. Well written and well acted. A little unrealistic, but still fun to watch.

sharpie Jan 12 2008 02:14 PM

Saw it. Liked it. Well written and well acted. Gave it an 8 outta 10.

themetfairy Jan 22 2008 05:16 AM

D-Dad and I saw this last night. It was cute, and sweet, and had a humor you could laugh with rather than laugh at. I don't think that anyone would be talking about awards for Juno, though, but for the fact that this has been a weak year for films. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant and enjoyable movie.

Vic Sage Jan 24 2008 01:18 PM

nice date movie for me and the missus.

soupcan Jan 27 2008 08:58 AM

Saw it last night. Wife and I liked it a lot. Gave it 8 stars. Not just Ellen Page, but the entire cast was stellar. Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, J.K. Simmons and the actress that played the step-mother. 'Dream big Bren!'

Fman99 Jan 27 2008 01:12 PM

Mendoza Line wrote: I saw it two weeks ago - it was my "It's Christmas and I'm Jewish and there's nothing else to do" movie. Cute. Sweet. Heartwarming. Well written and well acted. A little unrealistic, but still fun to watch. Ah that takes me back to seeing Godfather III in high school. Unfortunately I was unable to buy into the premise that Andy Garcia could bed Bridget Fonda 15 minutes into the movie but would ultimately fall in love with his ugly cousin instead. Drat.

Elster88 Jan 27 2008 10:27 PM

Cute movie. Hilarious, Carnac. sc = zero

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 28 2008 01:26 PM

Are we ready to open this up to discussion of whether you felt this was really a well-written movie, or whether the character Juno was just an artificial amalgam of specific "ironic cool" code and cliches that couldn't possibly belong to an actual 16-year-old? Like, calling the abortion clinic and excusing her hamburger phone. Like, the long conversation with Bateman over the relative coolness of Mott the Hoople. I tell you, in retrospect the only thing that saved this movie for me was Bateman's character turning out to be such a scumbag. I thought that was great. I thought, maybe this mitigates the whole cool-name-dropping scene. On second thought I'm not sure it does at all.

sharpie Jan 28 2008 01:50 PM

The Mott the Hoople thing bugged me too. I'm the right age for "All the Young Dudes" to be played at my prom. I don't remember what was played ("Colour My World" was I'm sure) but I'm pretty sure that that "All the Young Dudes" wasn't -- because it isn't really a song to dance to.

soupcan Jan 29 2008 12:38 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: ... thiswas really a well-written movie, or whether the character Juno was just an artificial amalgam of specific "ironic cool" code and cliches that couldn't possibly belong to an actual 16-year-old Do these ideas have to be independent of each other? Can't the 'ironic cool' also be well-written? Suro the Juno character was a reach - I've never met a 16 year-old girl cool enough to make me leave my wife and reassesss the last (almost) 30 years of my life, but it was a movie. A 'real' wise-ass 16 year-old wouldn't give you much a story would she? Look at the crap on MTV when they follow these kids around with cameras for whatever semi-reality show they're filming. These kids aren't interesting. They don't know anything and their opinions are either non-existent, ill-informed or just naive. I liked this movie because it was well written and the entire cast was great. 1982 prom theme for me was 'Breaking Away' by Al Jareau. It dovetailed nicely with a senior class theme of 'Break On Through in '82! I'm sure I've got my button around here somewhere...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 29 2008 12:49 PM

I dunno. I felt like there were a few points where "Juno" stopped being a pregnant teen heroine and became instead a vehicle for the writer/director to lecture us ignorant audience members on what is cool. I didn't like that at the time it was happening, but felt like maybe you could consider those judgements flawed in light of how the Bateman character turned out. But I'm not sure it invalidates it anymore and it kinda bothers me. I really liked everything else in this flick, especially the adults: Stepmom was dynamite, Bateman rocked and Garner did a great transformation from maniacal mommy wannabe. So I stand by my excellent film, BUT rating.

themetfairy Jan 29 2008 01:27 PM

Well, this isn't an exact analogy, but my 18-year-old daughter (not cool and certainly not pregnant) is as passionate about Broadway, showtunes and comic books as Juno was about her music. So the concept of a teenager with strong views and a strong background on a topic doesn't strike me as unbelievable. Prom Theme in 1979 - James Taylor's The Secret of Life.

Vic Sage Jan 30 2008 02:58 PM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Jan 31 2008 02:57 PM

The evolution of a sub-genre: The Quirky / American / Coming-of-age / Indie-style / Dramedy “Juno” represents a style of “off beat comedy” that features at least 1 teen protagonist coming of age in a dysfunctional situation, punctuated with humorously ironic observation and post-modern cinematic style and (sometimes) a cool soundtrack. Other examples of the genre: Harold & Maude – the granddaddy of the genre. Dazed & Confused Heathers Pump up the Volume American Beauty Ghost World Donnie Darko Rushmore Squid & the Whale What’s eating Gilbert Grape Welcome to the Doll’s House Slums of Beverly Hills Virgin Suicides Igby Goes Down Palindromes Tadpole Running With Scissors Angus Outside Providence Mystic Pizza Art School Confidential Little Miss Sunshine Opposite of Sex The following titles are good movies that DO NOT FIT THE GENRE due to an irony deficiency: Night of the Comet Better Off Dead One Crazy Summer Pretty In Pink Breakfast Club American Pie Valley Girl Clueless Ferris Beuhller Fast Times at Ridgemont High Flamingo Kid Cooley High American Graffitti Stand By Me some UK examples: If... Wish You Were Here Gregory's Girl

Nymr83 Jan 30 2008 05:31 PM

i've only seen 4 of those movies (American Pie, Clueless, Fast Times and Ferris Buehler) I don't remember a pregnancy in any of them though my memory of Fast Times is pretty shaky.

AG/DC Jan 30 2008 05:48 PM

Fast Times --- big pregnancy.

Vic Sage Jan 31 2008 08:52 AM

Pregnancy isn't a required element of the genre. Just a young protagonist or two through whose eyes we get to see their angst (either due to dysfunctional family dynamic, school or peer pressures, etc), but done with ironic humor and low key, off-beat characters.

AG/DC Jan 31 2008 09:04 AM

There wasn't anybody hip or ironic in Fast Times, though. I thought it was the film's saving grace that nobody was superior. No real first-person stuff. No real protagonist, either. Judge Rheinhold's character comes the closest to standing out ("Hope you had a nice piss, Arnold!"), but they're a bunch of mini-protaginoists who we don't get close enough to engage with their angst.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 31 2008 09:07 AM

Both Fast Times and Juno also featured teen characters who were into music, but FT didn't lecture its audience about its coolness in the irritating manner Juno did.

AG/DC Jan 31 2008 09:26 AM

A restatement of the same position there.

Vic Sage Jan 31 2008 12:25 PM

AG/DC wrote: There wasn't anybody hip or ironic in Fast Times, though. I thought it was the film's saving grace that nobody was superior. No real first-person stuff. No real protagonist, either. Judge Rheinhold's character comes the closest to standing out ("Hope you had a nice piss, Arnold!"), but they're a bunch of mini-protaginoists who we don't get close enough to engage with their angst. agreed about FAST TIMES' lack of irony. That's why it was on the 2nd list of titles that suffered from an "irony deficiency", thus not really fitting into the genre as i defined it.

AG/DC Jan 31 2008 12:36 PM

Oh, yeah, reading. I guess I was responding to Nymr and didn't realize which list he pulled that movie off of.

soupcan Jan 31 2008 02:59 PM

Damone sure thought he was hip and cool.

Elster88 Jan 31 2008 04:08 PM

I liked your handle AG

metirish Feb 11 2008 08:23 AM

The Juno Blacklash. How the backlash started.

AG/DC Feb 11 2008 08:56 AM

Aren't we just a bit too self-conscious if we can't give an impression without prefixing it with, "And I know I'm supposed to sneer at the precious indie-rock soundtrack, but..."? Have at it. You're not supposed to do anything except be honest.

The Second Spitter Feb 28 2008 06:22 AM

Juno is so overrated -- it's the Barry Zito of films.

soupcan Feb 28 2008 07:49 AM

This is the case of a good movie getting continuous good feedback that just snowballed. By the time people actually get around to seeing it, they expect so much more from it. Its a really good, entertaining little flick - but thats all it is.

AG/DC Feb 28 2008 08:15 AM

Napoleon Junomite.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 28 2008 08:30 AM

That's not an apt comparison. Napoleon Dynamite at best was a buzzy fun movie; Juno at worst is a buzzy fun movie. Or put another way, Napoleon Dynamite sucked ass and Juno didn't.

soupcan Feb 28 2008 04:00 PM

Yeah - I never really got the whole Napoleon Dyn-o-mite thing. Kinda like the lovely horse that went over my head too.

Vic Sage Feb 29 2008 08:49 AM

what horse would that be... Pegasus?

A Boy Named Seo Mar 09 2008 12:35 PM

I voted it a 7. The dialogue was certainly over-the-top and kind of Gilmore Girls-ish. But it was still funny (mostly), was built around a very good story, and some of the performances were awesome. Ellen Page and Jason Bateman were great. Garner and Janney kicked ass, too. George Michael may be a one-trick pony right now, but his one trick is damn funny and endearing. I've listened to the soundtrack now and think some of the songs (I'm thinking mostly of that Kimya Dawson girl) were quirky and just the kind of shit a 16-year old girl would latch on to. That's all. And some of the music is pretty cool anyway. The Kinks, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and "Piazza New York Catcher" by Belle and Sebastian. That's a good soundtrack, people. You guys need to lighten up or something. Swear to blog.

Rockin' Doc May 13 2008 11:21 AM

My wife and I watched Juno last night. Our 17 year old daughter failed to make it past the opening 30 minutes of tyhe film. It did start out a little slow, but it gradually gained momentum as it moved along. The acting is on the whole quite good. Ultimately, both my wife and I enjoyed the movie.

Elster88 May 13 2008 05:11 PM

A Boy Named Seo wrote: I voted it a 7. The dialogue was certainly over-the-top and kind of Gilmore Girls-ish. But it was still funny (mostly), was built around a very good story, and some of the performances were awesome. Ellen Page and Jason Bateman were great. Garner and Janney kicked ass, too. George Michael may be a one-trick pony right now, but his one trick is damn funny and endearing. I've listened to the soundtrack now and think some of the songs (I'm thinking mostly of that Kimya Dawson girl) were quirky and just the kind of shit a 16-year old girl would latch on to. That's all. And some of the music is pretty cool anyway. The Kinks, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and "Piazza New York Catcher" by Belle and Sebastian. That's a good soundtrack, people. You guys need to lighten up or something. Swear to blog. The important question is....You watch Gilmore Girls?!?

A Boy Named Seo May 14 2008 04:44 PM

Elster88 wrote: A Boy Named Seo wrote: I voted it a 7. The dialogue was certainly over-the-top and kind of Gilmore Girls-ish. But it was still funny (mostly), was built around a very good story, and some of the performances were awesome. Ellen Page and Jason Bateman were great. Garner and Janney kicked ass, too. George Michael may be a one-trick pony right now, but his one trick is damn funny and endearing. I've listened to the soundtrack now and think some of the songs (I'm thinking mostly of that Kimya Dawson girl) were quirky and just the kind of shit a 16-year old girl would latch on to. That's all. And some of the music is pretty cool anyway. The Kinks, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and "Piazza New York Catcher" by Belle and Sebastian. That's a good soundtrack, people. You guys need to lighten up or something. Swear to blog. The important question is....You watch Gilmore Girls?!? Like you don't? Nah, I used to work for Warner Bros. and the WB Network. Saw lots of that show at work.

metirish May 17 2008 09:18 AM

Liked the movie a lot , liked how it ended , love the soundtrack.

Edgy MD Jan 06 2009 10:40 AM

This film got better as it progressed, but it's damn archness made it very hard to get through the first half. It got condescending as hell. Tone seemed more important to the filmmakers than anything, but the tone and style were largely taken from other better films. Agreed that its salvation is the switcherama between the two young parents. My favorite thing though was the boyfriend's voice stuck between boyness and man-ness.