Quirky Juno delivers

It’s easy to see why Diablo Cody, sexy stripper turned scriptwriter, is Hollywood’s flavour-of-the-month. In Juno she delivers an original, outstanding script which is excellently performed by the cast. This is a quirky coming-of-age chick-flick with kick-ass dialogue.

The plot is pretty simple. Tough, cynical Juno (Ellen Page) is 16 and falls pregnant from nerdy Bleeker (the son from The War at Home). She goes for an abortion but changes her mind and decides to put it up for adoption instead. She finds a suitable couple (a pretty, earnest Jennifer Garner and a yuppy but grungy Jason Bateman) who can give the child everything it needs and then tries to get on with being an averagely dysfunctional 16-year old girl. Things start to fall apart, she grows up a bit and finds love along the way.

I think what I liked the most (apart from the hilarious one-liners) was the blend of humour and emotion. Juno is brash and funny in her ironically detached way but you know she’s a softie underneath. Juno (and Diablo Cody) seems to be laughing at everyone (including herself) but the defence only lasts so long. Then reality bites, dude.

I guess if I have to make a criticism, it would be that the movie’s too mainstream, feel-good middle America. Despite the charming dysfunctionality it’s still a pretty sheltered world with happy endings. (There’s no domestic violence or jarring personality dynamics for example.) Juno comments wryly to the prospective dad (Jason Bateman) that he’s a sell-out for turning from rock & roll to advertising jingles. But there’s also a sense that selling out is a part of growing up. Like the anti-establishment music bands that become the new establishment. Diablo Cody sells out in this movie but she does so in a refreshingly original and charming way. The Jason Bateman character for example (he was originally the teenage son from Family Ties?) provides an interesting contrast with alternative Juno and sets up a kind of father-daughter relationship between the two.

I don’t mind the slightly cute ending and I also have no problem with Juno’s basic message (if you can call it that) — what saves us is our creativity and close relationships.

Some Junoisms from here.

Rollo: That ain't no Etch A Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be undid, Homeskillet.

Juno: They have ads for parents?

Leah: Yeah! Desperately seeking spawn

Leah: Yo yo yoiggady yo.

Juno: I'm pregnant.

Leah: What? Honest to blog?

Juno: Yeah. It's Bleeker's.

Leah: It's probably just a food baby. Did you have a big lunch?

Juno: This is not a food baby all right? I've taken like three pregnancy tests, and I'm forshizz up the spout.

Leah: How did you even generate enough pee for three pregnancy tests?