Feb
14
2008
Dir: Jason Reitman
Writ: Diablo Cody
- Ellen Page … Juno MacGuff
- Michael Cera … Paulie Bleeker
- Jennifer Garner … Vanessa Loring
- Jason Bateman … Mark Loring
- Allison Janney … Bren MacGuff
- J.K. Simmons … Mac MacGuff
- Olivia Thirlby … Leah
Juno is 16. And pregnant. At first she thinks she’ll have an abortion, but changes her mind, she’ll continue to be pregnant but she isn’t interested in being a Mommy. She’ll give the baby up for adoption. So she takes a look in the PennySaver, which I’m guessing is similar to our Buy & Sell, and finds a couple she thinks will make good parents.
Don’t you just hate plot summaries? Rarely do they make a film/book sound good. But don’t let that put you off, go see this film.
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Tags:
8 Stars,
Allison Janny,
character driven,
comedy,
Diablo Cody,
Ellen Page,
J.K. Simmons,
Jason Bateman,
Jason Reitman,
Jennifer Garner,
Juno,
Michael Cara,
offbeat,
Olivia Thirlby,
pregnancy,
R15A,
teenagers
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Sep
01
2007
Dir & Writ: Jude Apataw
- Seth Rogen … Ben Stone
- Katherine Heigl … Alison Scott
- Paul Rudd … Pete
- Leslie Mann … Debbie
- Alan Tudyk … Jack
Proudly proclaiming the fact that this is from the same people who brought us The 40 Year Old Virgin this is a film that has been getting a lot of positive word of mouth. It seems like months ago that I first read about it. Of course, this may be because there was a delay between the US release and the release over here.
The story is a fairly simple one; on a drunken night out boy(Ben) meets girl(Alison) and she gets knocked up. This film is pretty much about the relationship between the two about-to-be parents as they come to terms with their new responsibilities. But along side this is the story of Pete and Debbie, Alison’s sister. They are married and have children, but still have a lot of figuring out to do as regards themselves and their relationship.
I really enjoyed this film. It has plenty of laughs, as well as being both harsh and endearing in depicting the relationships in the two couples.
It isn’t perfect though. I didn’t agree with the rave reviews of 40 Year Old Virgin, but this is better, although still not a film I’d be racing to go rewatch. Plenty to entertain though.
Tags:
6 Stars,
Alan Tudyk,
comedy,
funny,
Jude Apataw,
Katherine Heigl,
Knocked Up,
Leslie Mann,
over-hyped,
Paul Rudd,
pregnancy,
relationships,
Seth Rogen,
word of mouth
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Apr
15
2006
Dir: Phil Morrison
Writ: Angus MacLachlann
- Embeth Davidtz - Madeleine
- Alessandro Nivola - George
- Scott Wilson - Eugene
- Benjamin McKenzie - Johnny
- Celia Weston - Peg
- Amy Adams - Ashley
This is a film that perfectly fits that horrible description; a quirkie independent film. But never annoyingly quirky, so don’t worry about that.
For the majority of the time the film is told through Madeleine’s eyes. She is an art dealer, who meets George, falls in love and marries him. Six months later while in North Carolina trying to close a deal with a prime example of “outside” art they visit George’s family. Peg and Eugene, the parents. Johnny the brother and his very pregnant wife Ashley.
The film seems to be about Madeleine and George, but George isn’t actually in it all that much. And when he is, he says very little. One the one hand he seems to have rejected his family. It was Madeleine’s decision to see his family, he doesn’t really engage with them when there, and he is very thankful when leaving. But at the same time he obviously fits in so easily. This tight-knit, religous community is very much home to him. A home that Madeleine doesn’t really get. With her “Chicago” ways 
But I didn’t really like either of these characters. We never got to know George, and Madeleine while nice, always seemed a little false with her “darlings” and her kisses. But Johnny and Ashley are the heart of this film. Johnny who seems in constant anger at everything around him is shown to have a sweeter side, and Ashley is just adorable as the chatterbox with a good heart. She really steals the show.
Its quite a slow, quiet film for much of the time. We get flashes of total silence as we look at the countryside for example. And very little happens.
But it is also a very funny film. Touching, and, another horrible description, heart-warming. Very enjoyable.
IMDb | Slate | Reel Times | Lylee’s Blog | Confessions of a Movie Critic
Tags:
8 Stars,
Alessandro Nivola,
Amy Adams,
Angus MacLachlann,
Benjamin McKenzie,
Celia Weston,
comedy,
Embeth Davidtz,
heart-warming,
humour,
Junebug,
outsider art,
Phil Morrison,
pregnancy,
quirky,
relationships,
Scott Wilson
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