Now On DVD: Jason Reitman, Juno

Photo Credit: Circuit City

by Freeman Montaque
04/21/2008

April has proven (and continues to prove) to be a great month for DVDs. The first week saw Sweeney Todd hit the shelves, There Will Be Blood just last week, and this week alone, three of the best reviewed films of 2007 become available to own. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Lars and the Real Girl, and, of course, the critical and audience darling, Juno, all come out this week. What separates the quirky teen-pregnancy comedy from the rest of the pack is the fact that it is not only a good film, but it’s also a DVD that is unlikely to disappoint.

Ellen Page earned a much deserved Academy Award nomination for her performance as Juno MacGuff, a whip-smart high school student who is forced to confront the trying responsibilities of adulthood after she gets knocked up by her best friend, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). With a little help from her dad (J.K. Simmons) and stepmom [Allison Janney), Juno decides to put her child up for adoption, and she ends up deciding on Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner). What may seem to be a done deal turns out to be anything but. The rest of the supporting cast is equally as excellent in the comedy that earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director for Jason Reitman, with Diablo Cody taking home an award for her witty screenplay.

Unlike last week’s DVD release, Juno’s extras are just what the doctor ordered. Here you have the option of watching the film while listening to commentary by Reitman and Cody, which should prove to be insightful. Also included are actors’ screen tests, a gag reel, a gag take, and a cast & crew jam session, which is a basically a humorous music video that would have had a nice place at the end of the film while the credits rolled.

Also included are eleven deleted scenes. While you might think scenes cut from a comedy probably aren’t too funny, you’d be pleasantly surprised to find that the footage on the cutting room floor is just as funny as what was ultimately incorporated into the movie. And did I mention that you get all these worthy features on just one disc?

If you can’t get enough, there is also a 2-Disc digital copy special edition. It includes all of the aforementioned bonus features, plus 4 featurettes and a digital copy of the movie for portable media players.

Either way, you’re looking at a win-win situation when it comes to buying the movie. The only question is how much good stuff is enough for you?

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