I was a little late to getting on the Juno bandwagon but I’ve been eager to see this film for a while, after hearing all the hype about it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t terrific but it was fresh, creative and original − which are quite rare qualities in films made nowadays. Beginning from the cartoon-ish opening sequence, this film seemed to cater to a modern and I think, younger audience with some contemporary editing and overall style. However, I did find what I thought was a little over-the-top use of teenage slang in Juno’s phone call to her friend quite grating. Nevertheless, it was a delightful film, which interestingly had John Malkovich as one of its producers.
The film had a number of tensions and contrasts in it, which I guess gave it its colour and uniqueness. For instance, Juno at some points was quite immature and didn’t seem to grasp the significance of her pregnancy, such as when she has some biting remarks to the adopting parents and her “boyfriend” Paulie Bleeker. The encounter with Bleeker in the corridor, when she was jealous that he was going to the prom with another girl, well, that was just scathing and real bitchy. Maybe it was part of the hormones in action during her pregnancy but at that point I really sympathised with Bleeker. Then at other times Juno is quite mature, such as when she organises adoptive parents herself and is quite independent. The character of Vanessa (one of the adoptive parents) also flips between a seemingly cold person and a warm, nurturing figure. Like Juno, I also didn’t seem to get the problem of her hanging out with Mark (the other adoptive parent, who eventually divorces Vanessa). He was chilled out and obviously relatable to Juno, with his musical interests. There is an obvious age-difference but I think it was an unusual part of the plot.
Speaking of the plot − I am pleased that Diablo Cody won an Oscar for the script of Juno, as it is “different”. I admire the fact it took a subject such as teen pregnancy and changed the way it was viewed, though some people have criticised it as glamorising teen pregnancy. Another thing that struck me was the “imperfect” adoptive parents. As Juno remarks, it was supposed to be a perfect family for the baby − Vanessa and Mark end up divorcing − but Vanessa ends up with the child as a single mum. So the film clearly challenges ideas about these topics, which is part of its unique appeal.
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