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JUNO DELIVERS! Or does she? This is the question posed early on to the audience, and we wait on pins and needles until the end to find out the answer. This cute little Indie film snuck up on audiences and endeared itself to legions of loyal followers. Few movies have the same heart, soul, and attitude of this film, all carried out in a manner that ensconces the viewer, and showers moviegoers with humour, emotion, and sadness. The film boasts a breakthrough, tour de force performance by Ellen Page as Juno. Michael Cera is perfect as the impregnator of Juno, mixing his deadpan delivery together with a subtle conscience.

Juno is the best picture of 2007. The movie is a complete breath of fresh air in an era of poorly scripted films, lame comedies, cliche romances, and all too gory horror movies. Juno dares to be different, and pulls it off miraculously well. Ellen Page, a relatively unknown Canadian actress from Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a vision of loveliness as a conflicted 16 year old girl who finds herself pregnant. Her roller coaster of emotions ranges from the loftiest of highs to cavernous lows, and all the while we are struggling alongside her. We feel Juno's pain, and we find ourselves championing her cause.

The movie delves deep into the psyche of the audience, and challenges the viewer to see both sides of her story. Should Juno abort the baby, whom she learns already has fingernails from a protester outside of an abortion clinic, or should she keep the baby and give it up for adoption. In a day and age where sexual promiscuity is rampant, Juno deals with her situation in a very conscientious way. The movie is quite thought provoking, while also being terribly witty (thanks to a marvelous screenplay by Diablo Cody).

All of the characters are engaging, deep, and lovable. Michael Cera, of Superbad fame, also a Canadian actor, is very sweet and affable as Juno's impregnator. The chemistry between these two is obvious throughout the picture, most endearingly as the credits close out the film while the two of them sing a version of the Moldy Peach's song Anyone Else But You. The rest of the soundtrack has been extremely well chosen, with an odd assortment of songs containing lyrics that fit right in with the style of Juno. The film is quirky, yet entirely endearing. From laughter to tears, Juno runs the gamut of emotions. It is impossible to view this movie without falling in love with it.

Throughout the entire movie, the audience finds themselves applauding Juno for her forthright candor, and winds up falling in love with her, crying right alongside her as she goes through her decision making process and the end results of said decision. Juno's parents are fantastic, showing us a caring and nurturing side that we all wish we could be like in similar situations. The movie has a sweet and tender side, and yet it is also quite funny. The dialogue sparkles with its wit and pop culture references, delivered deadpan mostly by Ellen Page's lead character Juno.

Learn more about this author, Bobby Coles.
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