Writer: Lai Swee Wei

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Watch this if you liked: “The Opposite Of Sex”, “Saved!”, “Knocked Up”

"Juno" - it's a story that starts and ends with a chair, revealing so much in between. Ellen Page has done great justice to the witty character of Juno MacGuff, an impregnated 16-year-old know-it-all who finds that she doesn't know a lot when she gets pregnant. Fully aware that she and the would-be husband, nerdy classmate Paulie Bleeker, are ill-equipped in the child-raising department, she seeks the help of her patient father (J. K. Simmons) and dog-loving stepmother (Allison Janney), announcing that she wants to give birth to the baby and then put it up for adoption.

The tone of the story is light and playful without disregarding the importance of the situation. Packing plenty of intelligently structured one-liners (especially from Juno herself) you will no doubt be entertained till the end. Diablo Cody wrote a beautiful script for Juno that does not portray typical teen angst, but of a unique and smart girl who is wise beyond her years and handles her problems with responsibility. Don't get fooled by her using a hamburger as a telephone though!

The film takes us through the four seasons as we observe our young mum deal with the many issues of bearing a baby and finding suitable adoptive parents. Cast wise, I can't think of anyone better than Micheal for the role of the scared but responsible boy in love. Juno's chosen couple, aspiring musician Mark (Jason Bateman) and anxious wannabe-mum Vanessa (Jennifer Garner), bring the story forward.

Scored with many peculiar but catchy songs, it's the perfect touch to match an interesting story with unique characters.

As the film draws to a close, you would have laughed, sniggered and even wept a tear or two for the journey of "Juno".

Cinema Online, 07 January 2009