“Doctors are sadists who like to play God and watch lesser people scream.”

- Bren, Juno’s stepmom

After hearing all the praises that this movie had, I decided to try this film. I did not expect a lot from this film. I just wanted to watch a movie that won a lot of awards. Simple as that.

The movie carried me into the state of feeling good. The story was spot-on. I liked its Pro-Life message. I liked the way Juno handled all those tough situations in her teenage life.

Having seen some films that run on a somehow low amount of budget, I was not surprised that this film delivered.

The movie is presented in seasons. This is actually a clever way of showing the three trimesters of Juno’s pregnancy. Juno, played by Ellen Page, is a 16 year old high schooler studying in Dancing Elk High. She discovers that she is pregnant with a child whose father is her friend and longtime admirer named Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera.

This is where Juno’s decisiveness comes in. Instead of going for abortion, she decides that the baby would be better up for adoption. This is where the movie shines. It has the Pro-Life message that many people nowadays want. The movie sends a good and strong message through Juno’s decisions about the baby.

As a 16 year old handling her pregnancy, Juno shows enough mental fortitude in making the crucial decisions. I honestly think that this part of Juno’s character is what makes her best. She can be a good example to people if people view her teenage pregnancy as something positive.

Back to the story. Anyway, Juno and Leah, her bestfriend played by OliviaThirlby, search for the perfect parents that will soon be adopting the unborn child. They decided to go after Mark and Vanessa Loring, married who tried to have a child but went unsuccessful.

After being uneasy with the couple at first, Juno develops a bond with Mark, who still has dreams of becoming a rock star. These dreams lead to some troubles for the married couple. Just watch the film for you to find out.

The story is really heartwarming. The parents of Juno, Mac and Bren, instead of ending their support for their Junebug, they actually supported her more. They did not lose any sense of reality at all. The way they handled the situation shows a lot of maturity which I really loved.

Also, as the time in the story progresses, we also see the “love story” of Juno and Paulie evolve. It is actually one of the film’s strong points. Very clever. Very subtle yet catchy.

The story is seamless and is free-flowing. No extras whatsoever. Just what the viewer needs. By the way, the soundtrack is awesome. It is like relaxing yet it adds happiness and it shines on you.

Give credit to Diablo Cody for writing a story that grows you and it is written based on real-life experiences. The movie can be watched by everyone and until now, I am still amazed by it.

Ellen Page’s performance as Juno MacGuff is outstanding. Period. No questions asked. She essentially convinced us that in time of handling problems, we can be rational enough and stick with what we believe is right.

Overall, a film that you should watch. That is, if you have not watched it yet.

Year Released: 2007
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page as Juno MacGuff, Michael Cera as Paulie Bleeker, Olivia Thirlby as Leah, J.K Simmons as Mac, Allison Janney as Bren, Jason Bateman as Mark Loring, Jennifer Garner as Vanessa Loring amongst others