Waste of 92 minutes (Juno (DVD))

Member Name: Stephtin

Product:	Juno (DVD)
Date:	04/08/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Kimya Dawson soundtrack and Michael Cera

Disadvantages: The central character, dialouge and plot line.

When I first saw the trailer for Juno I was determined to avoid watching it.

Unfortunatly I had to for academic reasons. It's 92 minutes of my life I will never get back.

The official blurb from the Fox Searchilight website reads as follows:

"While most girls at Dancing Elk are updating their Myspace page or shopping at the mall, 'Juno' is a whip-smart Minnesota teen living by her own rules. Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she and best friend Leah hatch a plan to find 'Juno''s unborn baby the perfect set of parents courtesy of the local Penny Saver. With a fearless intellect far removed from the usual teen angst, 'Juno' conquers her problems head-on, displaying a youthful exuberance both smart and unexpected. "

Juno is not just an 'offbeat young woman' - she's a smart, independent, in control and confident teenager. In fact, she's the complete opposite of the stereotype of angst-ridden adolescence as seen in characters like 'Kevin the Teenager'. The unusual decision she makes is to give her baby up for adoption to a couple she finds in the wanted section of her local newspaper: "I'm going to give it up for adoption and I already found the perfect couple, they're going to pay for the medical expenses and everything. And and what ah 30 or odd weeks we can just pretend that this never happened."

Interestingly, there is never any worry that she may yearn for the child, that it may one day get back in touch with her, that she might suffer medical complications, that birth might be scary and hurt or that she just might not be able to give the baby up once she's had it. The process of adoption is simplified into a humorous, frivolous affair - this film is in fact more far fetched and unbelivable than any Sci-Fi I've ever encountered.

The young cast talk in a 'hip and witty fashion' with lines as smart as "Oh my blog" - the whole script from start to finish just feels like a bunch of adults trying to speak trendy and be down with the kids.

Juno is presented as a role model for the teenage generation due to her quick wit, cool nature and apparent mature relationship with the world. But in reality she is a one dimensional, selfish character that I simply found impossible to relate to. This film could have possibly been something interesting, full of ethical questions and actual comedy - instead it just left me empty and mildly irritated. It seems to be one of those films people like "because it's cool."

The only good thing about this film is the soundtrack. Kimya Dawson rocks. Oh and Michael Cera is brilliant in any role.

Summary: I resent ever having watched this.