Besides the plot, I gotta spend more than a sentence describing the score for Juno. You are a smart man, Jason Reitman, for listening to Ellen Page and using the music of The Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson. The folksy guitar gives the story a Midwestern feel. The Peaches have been around for awhile but Dawson’s voice sounds youthful. It speaks Juno’s language. It’s crazy but the main track, “Anyone Else but You,” has already been used for the Murderball soundtrack and get this, a FIFA World Cup 2006 ad. Few besides Quentin Tarantino can take already released songs and identify them forever with their movie. No one’s going to hear this music and imagine soccer legend Zinedine Zidane headbutting some guy now.
The tunes make cool themes for Juno and Paulie. The duet “Anyone Else but You” represents Juno and Paulie’s love. It plays when Juno and Paulie make love during the intro and after they’ve made up at the end. “Tire Swing,” a song about being different than your lover, is Juno’s theme. This track is awesome for giving away Juno’s mood whenever it’s heard. Initially, it’s as a song of regret about getting pregnant. While she’s having the baby, it’s a song of hope.
Can I say anything bad about this movie? If I must knock Juno it’s that I didn’t agree with Juno’s final decision. I had to think about it a little too long before it clicked. Also, I needed more scenes with Michael Cera. Since Superbad, he’s every skinny guy’s hero. It’s really hard to run out of reasons to go see this movie. Diablo Cody wrote a tight script that doesn’t sidetrack into unnecessary scenes. The dialogue is hilarious, especially Juno’s. It’s bookish enough and right for a smart young girl. Juno’s a good story about growing up and learning no one’s life is perfect. Juno stops thinking too much about her mistakes and trust her feelings.
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