Grade: A+ | Genre: Indie/Drama/Comedy Summary: Indie as usual does good, and in the case of Juno, it does even better than most. An unconventional story of a very unconventional young girl with the sass and wit of all the people you wish you could be and sound like, Juno demonstrates how great screenwriting and endearing characters can engage and carry a film beyond any high-budgeted studio "Blockbuster." Ellen Page is a revelation (in case you haven't seen Hard Candy, do so!), who has put herself in the pop-o-sphere of beloved and endearing female characters. From interviews, you can see that much of her own personality came through to Juno, but with an added whip smart sarcasm that wraps every word coming out of her mouth rivaling anyone that dare stand in her way.

PM Media Review:

With the release of Juno on DVD this week, now is a good opportunity to talk about a little film that wins you over in a big way. For those that have already seen Juno, you know what I mean. For those that haven't, rent it now and thank me later.

Indie as usual does good, and in the case of Juno, it does even better than most. An unconventional story of a very unconventional young girl with the sass and wit of all the people you wish you could be and sound like, Juno demonstrates how great screenwriting and endearing characters can engage and carry a film beyond any high-budgeted studio "Blockbuster."

It's Autumn and Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a High School teen living a normal life in a normal town; the kind of girl who gets lost in the crowd while hardly ever being noticed. She's the alternative girl who knows whom she is, is comfortable in her baggy clothes and doesn't need to be Susie Pom Poms to win popularity contests.

One night, out of boredom and with nothing better to do, Juno decides to lose her virginity with her best friend and unconfirmed boyfriend, Bleeker (Michael Cera). Awkward and tense, the two set the scene for what would be the basis of the entire movie.

Skip ahead a bit and guess what? Juno and Bleeker discover that they've mixed together a little miracle of life that will be making its appearance in nine months. For fun, we'll call their little love spawn Bluno. Now what? For the most part, it's Juno who must decide how to handle business. Do they take care of the problem with a "hasty abortion" or seek out adoptions candidates that would love and take care of Bluno.

Along the way, Juno comes across an ad for a young couple desperately seeking an adoption. "They were Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), and they were beautiful even in black and white." A well to do married couple just starting out, the pair aren't able to have children on their own and have sought adoption as a solution. While getting to know each other, Juno and Mark make a connection when they discover a common interest of classic punk rock music and gory slasher films. The story becomes a little uncomfortable because you are not sure what direction this relationship is heading, but we can find comfort in knowing that our girl Juno wouldn't blatantly make another terrible mistake while trying to fix her previous mistake, right?

Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Alison Janney, J.K. Simmons Director: Jason Reitman View the Trailer (Quicktime) Also Checkout... Hard Candy Little Miss Sunshine

What's great about Juno, the film, is that it doesn't pretend to be a moralizing melodrama about abstinence and teen sex. Juno is much too smart and too well conceived to let itself become an example of what not to do. Instead, it becomes more of a "Cautionary Whale," as Juno calls herself, of a young girl and how she deals with being thrusted into adulthood with the emotional tools she has developed thus far.

Ellen Page is a revelation (in case you haven't seen Hard Candy, do so!), who has put herself in the pop-o-sphere of beloved and endearing female characters. From interviews, you can see that much of her own personality came through to Juno, but with an added whip smart sarcasm that wraps every word coming out of her mouth rivaling anyone that dare stand in her way.

Juno was/is "The Little Engine That Could." Much like Little Miss Sunshine did previously; Juno garnered much critical and commercial adoration and was lauded by all who saw the film. Oscar nods and its Best Screenplay win are just icing on a cake that you can't have just once. Juno, surprisingly (despite it's content) finds a way to become a feel-good movie in a way that you can't resist watching it all over again. Much like Marguerite Moreau and in Easy, you are totally smitten with Juno and can't wait to see her again in Smart People.

Also, be sure to pick up the soundtrack!