Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody have crafted a film that subverts the conventions of the teen comedy. There are no villains, there are no hereos, there are only people faced with difficult choices that they must wrestle with. The characters, all of them, are, in a way, coming of age as they try to make the right decision as they discover new facets of themselves.

Beyond Reitman and Cody, the performances are near flawless. Ellen Page has fantastic timing with her witticisms and her realizations of who she is becoming. JK Simmons and Allison Janney are pitch perfect in their portrayals of supportive parents and what they must be going through. Then there are Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner; there is a lot of subtlety to what they have to offer, which is a lot more than you may think at first.

Bottom line. Quite simply, this is a great film. It hits all the right notes and takes its time to reveal these characters. Juno is not laugh out loud funny, but it will have you smiling and chuckling, with the occasional guffaw. It is rare that a film lands nearly everything, this one comes as close as one can come. Enjoy it.

Highly Recommended.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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