Movie Review: Juno

I just saw Juno and unlike, apparently, everyone else in the world, I REALLY didn't like it. The fact that the movie is so overhyped doesn't help, but regardless of that I just found it to be too unbelievable and too contrived. To put it succinctly, I would call it an indy teen version of Knocked Up.

I won't act like I'm a great movie reviewer, especially when you can read this well put review, so I'll stick to my beloved lists:

What I didn't like:

• The biggest problem, the witty yet shallow dialog. Dialog-wise, everyone one is witty and amusing, save for the extremely unsympathetic, until the end, Vanessa (Jennifer Garner).
  
• The occasional and seemingly capricious use of "visual aids" throughout. (Did we really need watch the transition between a normal chick and a "strange chick"? Also when Juno lists her top 3 bands, did we HAVE to see the photos of Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and the Runaways?)
  
• Similarly, Juno's voice overs are constant in the beginning and end but otherwise sporadic and unnecessary.
  
• The parents never even bring up keeping the child with Juno? It's not like they're an impoverished family.
  
• A forced "Indy" feel, with the animated opening credits, seasons titles, and acoustic guitar soundtrack.
  
• Rather abruptly, the tone of the movie goes from teen pregnancy comedy to teen pregnancy drama. There is a very distinct point in the movie where the witty lines disappear and everything gets serious.
  
• The movie starts with the line "It started with a chair" and seemingly ends with "It ended with a chair" BUT then a happy ending is crammed in after Juno says "It ended with a chair". I know I'm nitpicking... but still!
  

What I did like:

• The dialog, while annoyingly similar for essentially every character, is funny.
  
• A female in the lead of a "witty movie" was a good change, and all things considered, Ellen Page played Juno well.
  

You'll probably like it if you like:

• "Kevin Smith" dialog (Clerks, Dogma)
  
• Nerdy Indy Teen movies (Napoleon Dynamite)
  
• Nerdy Teen movies with "Kevin Smith" dialog (Superbad).
  
• a forced feel good endings

Similar movies I liked:
more: Saved!
more: Superbad
much more: Knocked Up
much more: Election
much much more: Rushmore