Directed: Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking)

Written: Diablo Cody (debut)

Starring: Ellen Page (Hard Candy), Michael Cera (Superbad), Jennifer Garner (Elektra, Suddenly 30, TVs Alias), Jason Bateman (The Sweetest Thing, TVs Arrested Development), Alison Janney (Drop Dead Gorgeous, Hairspray, TVs West Wing)

As far as smart quirky off-beat youth comedies go I would rate Juno up there with the likes of "Garden State" or "Ghost World". Screenwriter Diablo Cody is a blogger turned stripper who has created a script which is unique but with a broad appeal. Juno (the spectacular Ellen Page) is a teenage girl who accidentally falls pregnant to her goofy friend (Michael Cera) and decides to go through with the pregnancy and adopt out the baby to a rich childless couple (Jennifer Garner & Jason Bateman). Juno is an offbeat loner type with an interest in classic punk music and a very sharp tongue. She seems to be the smartest character in the film but as we follow her through very adult circumstances and situations we realize she is still really just a simple kid in over her head. Michael Cera is the dopey yet adorable biological teen dad who is compliant with Junos wishes and generally spends the whole film looking confused and flashing his nervous smile. Juno finds herself turning to the adoptive parents for company during her pregnancy and forging an inappropriately close relationship with the adoptive father (Bateman) due to shared musical interests. The film has an overall positive feel and relaxed vibe which is comforting when addressing serious topic matter . . . it is refreshing to see a new idea for a plot where the characters are happily flawed and a teen pregnancy can be taken in the stride of everyday life, where it is not the end of the world or the ruin of all hopes and dreams . . . it is also refreshing to see a supportive and patient stepmum (Janney) who is presented as of equal benefit to a child as the absent biological mother . . . a necessary portrait of the diversity of mothers and motherhood where maternity isn't exclusively tied to childbirth.

Learn more about this author, Morgan Bell.
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