A young girl who becomes pregnant while not married and not yet seventeen faces a dilemma. One needn’t stretch the imagination to list the ramifications of such a predicament. Having to let her parents in on the little secret is one thing. And telling the boyfriend the news is another. In Juno, this time-worn quandary befalls the title heroine.   

Winsome Ellen Page fills the central character’s maternity dress here. At 20-years old, the actress appears younger than her years in the film.  Think twelve. That’s not to take anything away from her, for she gives a strong performance for such a young actress. You may not recognize this to be so for the first fifteen or twenty minutes of the movie, thanks to the flippancy which characterizes the dialogue -- especially Juno‘s. As a matter of fact, nearly all the words, no matter who utters them, seem to be coming from the same mouth.

Just as the flippancy begins to become annoying, we start to get little glimpses past the young heroine’s nonchalance and that of the other characters as well. The boyfriend Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera, for instance, initially makes us  feel Juno could have made a better choice in a lover. His character is definitely not an attractive one -- nor does he appear all that interesting. However, although Paulie doesn't have a lot of screen time, he gradually comes across as a decent, warm, likable human being. He’s a boyfriend deserving of Juno, who by this time has also won the audience’s heart with her sensitivity, sincerity and concern for those around her.

Of course, besides keeping the baby, a pregnant young girl has options to explore, such as abortion and adoption. Juno looks into both.

Jennifer Garner does a fine job earning our sympathy  as the better half of a married couple in Juno. Her character desperately wants a child. Jason Bateman, as her husband Mark, well past his teenage years, hasn’t yet outgrown them. At first glance, he seems laid-back and charming. But when we get to know him better, he proves anything but, and Bateman certainly brings this role to life.

Kudos also to Allison Janney, who delivers a fine performance as Juno’s stepmother. Her portrayal should go a long way toward breaking down the “evil stepmother” stereotype seen in so many films and stories.

Juno garnered a lot of attention when it hit the big screen, all of it well-deserved. Filmmaker Jason Reitman took a chance here and pulled it off with his subtle and lucid direction. He deserves much respect for this movie, and, of course, he has received it. Reitman was nominated for an Oscar as Best Director of Juno, which also ended up being one of the five nominees as Best Picture of 2007. But it was Juno’s screenwriter, Diablo Cody, who took home the Oscar for best original screenplay.   

(Released by Fox Searchlight and rated "PG-13" for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.)