“Your parents are probably wondering where you are,” said adoptive-mother-to-be Vanessa Loring.
“Nah, I mean, I’m already pregnant so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?” responded 16-year-old Juno MacGuff.
This is the many layered, sarcastic tone that Ellen Page, who plays MacGuff, and director Jason Reitman (“Thank You For Smoking”) bring to “Juno.” The film is an outrageous, heartfelt comedy about love and being in high school. “Juno” is enjoyable for every minute and is dead-on in its portrayal of teen angst.
“Juno” is about a high school teen who gets pregnant after she gets bored and sleeps with her best friend, Paulie Bleeker, who is in love with her. She decides to become the surrogate mother for the Lorings, a couple she found in a magazine. In addition to the regular trials of pregnancy, Juno also has to deal with being pregnant in high school and her strained relationship with Bleeker. In the process, she becomes close with the reluctant adoptive father Mark Loring.
In addition to Page, the film stars “Superbad” actor Michael Cera as Bleeker and Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the Lorings. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney appear in supporting roles as Juno’s father and step-mother. There is also a cameo from “The Office” actor Rainn Wilson. In a film as star-studded as they come in the independent world, it is the relatively unknown Page who steals the show.
Page’s quirky, sarcastic MacGuff is a memorable and unique character. Always ready with a fast-moving, slang-laden comeback, Juno MacGuff has the smooth persona we all wish for. Despite being best known outside her native Canada for a supporting role in X-Men: The Last Stand, the 20-year-old Page is now a star after “Juno.” Page, who is already nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, is also generating some well-deserved Oscar buzz for her performance.
Juno MacGuff is a memorable female lead in a genre dominated by male leads. Quirky, independent high school comedies have been a big hit at festivals and the box office in the last few years. Films such as 2003’s “The Battle of Shaker Heights,” 2004’s “Napoleon Dynamite” and 2005’s “Thumbsucker” were all male driven. This is one of the reasons “Juno” stands out.
Despite being a comedy on the surface, there are many deeper issues that are broached in the film. Teen pregnancy is the most prominent. Also, the film deals with true love and divorce, teen angst, abortion, growing up and even high school popularity issues.
The film created much buzz with its appearances at the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. A heavy ad campaign coupled with a very limited Dec. 5 release had the film in such high demand that late December TV spots proclaimed with zeal “Juno is now playing everywhere!” The film had its wide release Dec. 25.
“Juno” is a film for anyone who ever went to high school. The film’s charm transcends generations and the issues bring depth to the comedy. As Juno herself says when asked about her day, “Just out dealing with things way beyond my maturity level.”
Pat Devers can be reached at [email protected].
