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Oscar Watch: Jason Reitman, Juno

by Kathryn Durfee
02/12/2008

Clint Eastwood's 2004 award winner isn't the only million dollar baby to hit theaters in recent years. This year's surprise hit Juno has just crossed the $100 million mark, broken a whole mess of records, and has earned 4 Oscar nominations. So what is it about little Juno MacGuff that's got the whole nation talking?

Juno, distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures and 20th Century Fox International, opened in limited release in early December. By the time the film made its way to my neighborhood in little old Athens, GA, it had been heralded as one of the best films of the year. Charmed by the trailers and quirky soundtrack, I was looking forward to seeing the movie and eagerly bought tickets to one of the first showings. The theater was packed with college students of all social demographics; the Greeks were there, the hipsters were there, and even the townies were there. Everyone laughed at the lines we had all already seen a thousand times in the trailer and walked out making comments that reflected the reviews I had read.

One small problem: I didn't get it. I mean, I understand the movie. It was a romantic comedy like 10 Things I Hate About You mixed with the recent Judd Apatow hit Superbad, but with a girl in the leading role. But as was the case with Apatow's other 2007 hit, Knocked Up, I just didn't and still don't see it as one of the best of the year.

By now, everyone knows what Juno is about. Juno MacGill is a 16-year-old in a sticky situation: after a night of what is described as "boredom" and experimentation with her geeky friend Paulie Bleeker, she finds herself pregnant. She chickens out of an abortion and instead decides to give her baby to an affluent couple looking to adopt. The couple however, is not as happy and perfect as they initially seem, and Juno ends up caught in another sticky situation as she watches a marriage dissolve. All while dealing with the typical family and relationship messes that go along with being in high school. Sheesh. Sounds like a train wreck.

The fact is, the film isn't an absolute wreck. It's actually quite likable and definitely worth seeing. I just didn't find it to be worthy of multiple watchings, let alone a frontrunner for the Oscars. The script, though ultimately endearing, is chock full of snarky comments and hip witticisms. Juno isn't so much quirky as she is a smart-ass, which is why I was shocked to find how many adults loved the film. Had I taken my mother to the theater, I would've gotten an earful on the way home about how that was "clearly for the younger generation."

On that note, it seems odd to me, and maybe it's just because I'm from a reasonably conservative (but not right-wing nut) family, to make a cutsie movie about teenage pregnancy, another confusing element to its critical reception. As for Juno's movie parents, Bren and Mac (played by Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons), they treat Juno's "condition" with warmth, understanding, and a sense of humor. Instead of being mad at the Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), Mac remarks that he "didn't think he had it in him," and Bren later says, "You know, of course, it wasn't his idea." They seem to look at the situation as more of a "look what our little Juno's gotten herself into now." Maybe there are parents like that somewhere out there, but I haven't met them.

So who's going to take care of this little bundle of sarcasm? Juno selects Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman), who live in a suburban McMansion that resembles the inside of a Pottery Barn catalog. Vanessa is a successful something-or-other and Mark writes jingles for commercials. From the time we, along with Juno, are invited into Mark's "room," a single, solitary spot for him to keep all of his toys and vestiges of his dreams of becoming a rock star, we wonder if perhaps Juno and Mark are a better match than are he and Vanessa. Diablo Cody's script keeps Juno too naive to think that Mark might try something inappropriate with her, showing just how immature Juno is.

The script is well written, especially for a first-timer, with an almost perfect mix of quiet, heartwarming moments of realization and revelation and sharp, unexpected comedy (note the exchange between Bren and the nurse who performs Juno's ultrasound). Unfortunately, the movie would have been funnier had they not exhausted all of the best lines in the trailer.

Michael Cera deserves a nod for his portrayal as the super-akward Paulie, lover of orange tic-tacs and cross-country runner. It's Ellen Page, though, who carries the film. The film follows Juno through all nine months of her pregnancy, and Page plays the "growing up the hard way" role well. Juno's words seem to be coming from somewhere deep inside Page, rather than off of a written script.

What gives Juno her quirkiness and strength is that through most of the film, she seems to regard the pregnancy as an inconvenience. She's eager to give the baby to Vanessa and Mark, and only truly seems to realize what she's gotten herself into when the couple's marriage falls apart before her eyes, causing her to question the existence of true love. Towards the end of the nine-month term, Juno is overwhelmed with emotions about who she is and what she wants out of her life. Above all, it's Paulie she wants, and the final scene depicts the utopia of a first real love relationship. Juno and Paulie just did things in reverse.

Like I said before, Juno isn't a bad film. It's not even mediocre. It's a good, entertaining, worth-$8 comedy. But for me and several other people with whom I have discussed the film, it didn't quite live up to the hype. I appreciate writer Cody's willingness to explore the uncharted territory of lead female characters, but I don't necessarily see Juno as the girl to do the job. She's a little too cynical, a little too hip, and a little too lucky to have everything work out so perfectly.

Eight weeks after the film's release, the hype has yet to slow. To date, Juno has grossed over $100 million, making it the first Fox Searchlight release to break the coveted mark (the previous highest-grossing film was 2004's Sideways, which brought in $71.5 million). In addition, Juno has become the 6th highest grossing platform release of all time (beating 2002's sneak hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding), it has been on the Top 10 grosses list for six consecutive weekends, it has been included in 175+ Top Ten lists, and has received numerous guild nominations from WGA, SAG, PGA, ACE, and CDG. And finally, Juno has been nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Direction, and Best Writing (Original Screenplay).

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