Juno

[CrimsonTribe]

Just got out of the theater and am very pleased. I had heard this was supposed to be a great movie and it did not disappoint. Very funny, but also fairly sweet so that most girls will like it. In addition, the soundtrack is awesome; I immediately downloaded it from iTunes when I got home. Michael Cera didn't have a huge role, but he had his moments in a typical Michael Cera fashion. I highly recommend. Anyone else see it?

[backwardsk]

Just got out of the theater and am very pleased. I had heard this was supposed to be a great movie and it did not disappoint. Very funny, but also fairly sweet so that most girls will like it. In addition, the soundtrack is awesome; I immediately downloaded it from iTunes when I got home. Michael Cera didn't have a huge role, but he had his moments in a typical Michael Cera fashion. I highly recommend. Anyone else see it?

It's on my to-do list for the Holiday season...

[Spoonless]

Just got out of the theater and am very pleased. I had heard this was supposed to be a great movie and it did not disappoint. Very funny, but also fairly sweet so that most girls will like it. In addition, the soundtrack is awesome; I immediately downloaded it from iTunes when I got home. Michael Cera didn't have a huge role, but he had his moments in a typical Michael Cera fashion. I highly recommend. Anyone else see it?

I saw a screening of it a few weeks ago. I'd probably go see it again. I thought it was great.

[Lucky Jim]

Tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

[Patient O.T.]

Plan on going this weekend.

Also, listening to Moldy Peaches right now.

[Elon Os Fan]

Great Movie. Go see it!!!

[cindyluvsbrady]

I tried Thursday night but I couldnt get in!:(

[Lucky Jim]

My objective appraisal:

Good, not great. Very much the screenplay of a young writer (Diablo Cody) who's talented but, perhaps, trying too hard. The quick, clever dialogue sometimes felt a little less organic than ideal.

That said, also very funny. With some wonderful performances. Nice to see long-time TV actors - like Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons and Jason Bateman - holding their own (and then some) on the big screen.

Michael Cerra is wonderfully likeable. And Ellen Page is such a natural fit for the role you'd think it was written for her.

Also, the best use of the euphemism "junk" (repeatedly) I've ever seen in a film.

[The Wedge]

Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

[NewMarketSean]

I saw it over the weekend. It was good, not great like another poster said. I thought the dialogue was forced at times. It came off too... cute. It didn't have the teeth that most acclaimed movies have, even comedies. As for the pregnancy trilogy we've had this year, I think it goes 1. Knocked Up, 2. Juno, 3. Waitress... however all 3 films were good.

I'd also like to see Ellen Page do something other than a sarcastic teenager. That schtick is starting to get old.

[The Wedge]

Then watch X-Men: The Last Stand. ;)

[backwardsk]

I'd give it a pretty good, but not great rating. This film gained a lot more hype than I anticipated. Maybe my expectations were too high. I liked it, and will probably netflix it when it comes out. The critic in me thought there were some scenes that were too unrealistic to be believed (such as the note leaving scene) and Jason Bateman's character was too telegraphed IMO. But I did laugh quite a bit.

"You're an ultrasound technician? I'm a nail technician. Let's stick to what we know." Hilarious.

[Tank]

I'd give it a pretty good, but not great rating. This film gained a lot more hype than I anticipated. Maybe my expectations were too high. I liked it, and will probably netflix it when it comes out. The critic in me thought there were some scenes that were too unrealistic to be believed (such as the note leaving scene) and Jason Bateman's character was too telegraphed IMO. But I did laugh quite a bit.

"You're an ultrasound technician? I'm a nail technician. Let's stick to what we know." Hilarious.

I agree with you. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

[The Wedge]

I'd give it a pretty good, but not great rating. This film gained a lot more hype than I anticipated. Maybe my expectations were too high. I liked it, and will probably netflix it when it comes out. The critic in me thought there were some scenes that were too unrealistic to be believed (such as the note leaving scene) and Jason Bateman's character was too telegraphed IMO. But I did laugh quite a bit.

"You're an ultrasound technician? I'm a nail technician. Let's stick to what we know." Hilarious.
I'm curious, why do you think the note leaving scene was unrealistic?

[backwardsk]

I'm curious, why do you think the note leaving scene was unrealistic?

I'll post my reasoning below. If anyone has not seen the movie and does not want to know please move on to the next post...









...I think it was unrealistic in it's delivery, not content. Juno was moving around real slowly at that point in the movie due to her pregnancy. So she dropped off the note, rang the doorbell, and waddled back to her car, started the car and was driving off by the time Bateman got to the door? Yeah, it's nit-picking, but it's something that shouldn't have made it past post-production IMO. I made that comment to my wife after the movie, and she said she was thinking the same thing. By the way, didn't you get the feeling that she was going to fall down or get into an accident at some point in the movie? I'm glad it didn't happen, but I had a bad feeling that she would.

[The Wedge]

Ah, fair enough. Stuff like that happens in movies all the time though (most recently, Padme "I can practically sprint while incredibly pregnant" Amidala in Revenge of the Sith). Little logistical things like that don't bother me quite as much, because they want to keep a certain pace. Had Bateman and Gerner just stared at each other the extra ten seconds it would have taken for a pregant girl to realistically get back in the car and start it, it would have been even more awkward. But I see what you mean.

I feel you too on the sense that they seemed like they were going to set up some sort of catastrophe. But maybe that's because Juno was so...cavalier. She didn't seem to even care about the child. You know she did a little, but even when it was born she mentions that her and Bleeker didn't even go see it because "it didnt' feel like ours," or whatever. Juno was a weird girl.

[Frobby]

Very good movie. The characters were likeable/lovable and imperfect. I have an 18-year old daughter and I thought Juno's attitude and demeanor were pretty true-to-life.

[DuffMan]

So after several attempts to see this me and the wife finally saw it tonight. Like some other posters have said I'll say to, good but not great. I was hoping it would be funnier than what it was. Ellen Page was good but as far as winning Best Actress. I would say no.

[Hallas]

My experience with the flick is that it appeals to some people with its humor (I thought it was hilarious, others who loved it agreed.) These are the ones that think it's amazing. Humor's a funny beast though and you're not going to make everyone laugh. Nonetheless it's still a sweet story with a lot going for it aside from the humor. I can say that I honestly wouldn't have liked it as much if it weren't for the humor, because sweet stories aren't my thing. But it has all the elements of a good story so no one can say it's bad.

As some other people have mentioned, I do believe that if you were to point faults, the dialogue is an area that could have used a little work. While hilarious, it was over-the-top sometimes and seemed a little bit too hipster/mature for a 16 year old girl.

One other note - I love how the screenwriter used her stripper name. It just makes the film that much cooler.

[vatech1994]

Very good movie. The characters were likeable/lovable and imperfect. I have an 18-year old daughter and I thought Juno's attitude and demeanor were pretty true-to-life.

You seem very calm for a guy with an 18 year old daughter. I can only imagine how harrowing it is to navigate those waters in this day and age. :D

BTW, I really liked Juno. Not phenomenal, but definitely worth the price of admission and then some.

I also want to add that I never really saw the huge appeal of Jennifer Garner before this movie. I mean, I thought she was very attractive, but not to die for like many people. I saw that "to die for" thing in this movie for some reason which is odd since it wasn't an especially sexy role.

[The Wedge]

As some other people have mentioned, I do believe that if you were to point faults, the dialogue is an area that could have used a little work. While hilarious, it was over-the-top sometimes and seemed a little bit too hipster/mature for a 16 year old girl.

One other note - I love how the screenwriter used her

Dialogue is one of those things...it's never true to life, really, but in some movies the writers write how they wish they talked or had conversations. Look at Kevin Smith.

[Hallas]

Dialogue is one of those things...it's never true to life, really, but in some movies the writers write how they wish they talked or had conversations. Look at Kevin Smith.

Well a Kevin Smith movie is generally so outrageous that our sense of believability is suspended. This movie is much more down to earth so it has a little less wiggle room when it comes to "realism" and believability. Plus I think Juno could have been just as funny while retaining more qualities of a 16-year-old. There were times when I was like, "wow she's a little too smart and sassy for her age/upbringing..."

This isn't to say that I didn't really like the movie - I was more nitpicking.

[The Wedge]

Well a Kevin Smith movie is generally so outrageous that our sense of believability is suspended. This movie is much more down to earth so it has a little less wiggle room when it comes to "realism" and believability. Plus I think Juno could have been just as funny while retaining more qualities of a 16-year-old. There were times when I was like, "wow she's a little too smart and sassy for her age/upbringing..."

This isn't to say that I didn't really like the movie - I was more nitpicking.

The original Clerks was? How about Chasing Amy?

[vatech1994]

The original Clerks was? How about Chasing Amy?

Love Kevin Smith, really love Chasing Amy, but I completely agree that the dialogue in that movie was much too slick for reality.

[The Wedge]

Love Kevin Smith, really love Chasing Amy, but I completely agree that the dialogue in that movie was much too slick for reality.

That's what I was saying...I was drawing a parallel. :) Just that those movies weren't as outrageous (Hallas' description) as some of his others.

I'm just of the opinion that the dialogue argument is a little weak in some cases.

[Hallas]

That's what I was saying...I was drawing a parallel. :) Just that those movies weren't as outrageous (Hallas' description) as some of his others.

I'm just of the opinion that the dialogue argument is a little weak in some cases.

Clerks 1 is pretty far out there... Chasing Amy? Less so, but Smith still sets the tone for a more out-there comedy. Both movies start with hilarious, but nonetheless ridiculous fights that break out over pretty random things.

[The Wedge]

Well, in Clerks case, I'd say it was less of a fight and more of a confrontation, and it wasn't really random. For Chasing Amy, I'm not sure whether you're talking about the "tracer" thing or the thing with Banky and Hooper, but I don't think eihter of those are random either, though I think Banky's reaction to the tracer taunts are slightly over the top.

I dunno, I just think that going "oh the dialogue is too slick" isn't a great criticism in most cases. If it was realistic dialogue, people wouldn't talk half the time. ;)

[Objectivity]

I dunno, I just think that going "oh the dialogue is too slick" isn't a great criticism in most cases. If it was realistic dialogue, people wouldn't talk half the time. ;)

Plus, no movie dialog is truly realistic. How many times do you hang up a phone after a call without saying goodbye, etc.

I think what people are really saying regarding Juno is that all the characters sound exactly the same. I don't know if I buy that. They all sound like they live in the same movie Universe, but with different dialects. Juno's mother is blunt and to the point. Her father is a bit world-weary. She's a bit cynical about the world.

There were only two things that I felt didn't work. I felt it was unrealistic how they handled Bleaker in relation to the pregnancy. He was let off the hook with a throwaway line "My parents agreed not to out you." It was too neat.

The other thing was that we learn at the end of the movie that her friend is a cheerleader. It's not a major plot point, but there's no way a girl like Juno is going to be best friends with a cheerleader.

[Hallas]

Well, in Clerks case, I'd say it was less of a fight and more of a confrontation, and it wasn't really random. For Chasing Amy, I'm not sure whether you're talking about the "tracer" thing or the thing with Banky and Hooper, but I don't think eihter of those are random either, though I think Banky's reaction to the tracer taunts are slightly over the top.

I dunno, I just think that going "oh the dialogue is too slick" isn't a great criticism in most cases. If it was realistic dialogue, people wouldn't talk half the time. ;)

It's not so much realism as it is believability. I understand that a movie, while mirroring real life, is not going to be 100% realistic. I also think that the movie sets its own boundaries for believability - and this boundary is a lot more lax for a Kevin Smith movie than it was for Juno. The bottom line is that, for some people that suspension of disbelief was broken in large part due to the dialogue.

[Mackus]

Finally saw this last night, really enjoyed it.

[Balmer Bomber]

I saw the movie last night and was thoroughly please. I think I laughed more than anyone in the theater.

As for this quote:


The other thing was that we learn at the end of the movie that her friend is a cheerleader. It's not a major plot point, but there's no way a girl like Juno is going to be best friends with a cheerleader.

the movie is set in a small town, so everyone in the same grade has known each other since they started school. Who is to say that Juno and her friend didn't become best friends until sometime in middle school and that her friend decided in high school that she wanted to be come a cheerleader.

[tennOsfan]

I finally saw it today. For the first third of the movie, I was thoroughly annoyed by the character Juno. And I didn't find much of it funny.

But as the story moved along, my opinion moved with it. By the end, I was totally moved by how sweet the story really was. A great movie, and now officially my favorite of 2007.