This year must hold the record for most films with pregnancy story lines. How often do you see a movie that centers on pregnancy as a primary driving force of the plot? 2007 has had three. First there was Knocked Up, a brilliant comedy from Judd Apatow, which was as outrageous and over the top as it was realistic and touching. Next came Waitress, centering on the unwanted pregnancy of Kerri Russell, well, that and some delicious looking pies.
Now, along comes Juno, which just may be the most realistic of the bunch. It is the second feature from Jason Reitman, who made a splash in 2005 with Thank You for Smoking. Juno is also the debut for screenwriter Diablo Cody who has an uncanny ability to nail smart dialogue without it feeling unnatural, and could be the film to send Ellen Page to the next level when combined with last year's Hard Candy.
If there is one way to best sum up Juno, it would be with this line from the trailer: "Just out dealing with things way above my maturity level." With just those few words we are given great insight into Juno's character and the movie in general. Among the revelations: it is a quirky line that (along with the rest of the trailer) reveals the overall level of quirk in the film.
An interaction with her father reveals a parent who is far more supportive than parents are usually allowed to be in this sort of film, and it shows a character who knows she is a kid and is not trying to act older than she is. All of this is a breath of fresh air, sidestepping the usual cliches, creating characters that feel more real and genuine than we are accustomed to seeing.
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