Juno (2007): A Formal Review

Juno is a 2007 film that covered a multitude of genres. The movie was renowned for it's original writing and dialogue, paired with intriguing characters, along with the compelling and relatable story from the (at the time) young writer/director pair of Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody.  Personally, Juno has been one of my favorite films since I was in middle school and Jason Reitman has been one of my favorite directors since that time.

I even brought it to college.

The topic of Juno was a very relatable and relevant topic to the time it was released. In America over the past decade there has been a shocking number of teen pregnancies. This made the realism and story of Juno so intriguing to the viewers. It offered an insight to what these teen-mothers went through every day. The film portrayed all of the aspects that teen mothers go through, such as, contemplating abortion,  telling the parents, handling the relationship with the father of the baby, and going through adoption or surrogacy. With such a serious topic it's hard to imagine there being humor in the film, but that's one of the best parts of Juno. This film covers so many different genres. It's funny at parts, sad and shocking at certain points, and even romantic with the relationship between Michael Cera and Ellen Paige. It's this perfect blend of humor, romance, realism, and drama that makes the film so great. The creators didn't over-dramatize the happenings, they were realistic and straightforward.

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The characters, the dialogue, and the all around style of the film are what make it so unique. This was Diablo Cody's first script and her first attempt at working in the movie industry. Prior to her script being picked up, Cody was a stripper and continued to write during her times as a show girl. These troubled surroundings aided her in coming up with the dysfunctional characters that, essentially, drive the story in Juno. The abnormal lingo that the characters possess is hysterical and appealing.
Some examples would be:

"That ain't no etch-a-sketch. That's one doodle that can't be un-did home skillet."
- Rollo

"As far as boyfriends go, Paulie Bleeker is totally boss. He is the cheese to my macaroni. And, I know that people are supposed to fall in love before they reproduce, but... I guess normalcy isn't really our style."
- Juno

This fresh dialogue from first time writer Diablo Cody paired with the talented young director of Jason Reitman really made a captivating piece of modern art.

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Along with the original dialogue, there were many different qualities to Juno that made it as creative as it was. The music in this film played a huge role. The creators used it as a way to develop the characters personalities, and form a bond between them. Jason Reitman chose music from independent artists like the Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson to create an atmosphere around the protagonist, Juno. 

In post-production they also added many creative elements. For one, they separated the story into sections based on seasons. These seasons seemed to set a tone for that part of the story. 

Autumn: Much like the calm and transitioning weather that came during this season, the story is just beginning and everything Juno goes through is new and confusing. This season portrays her transition phase from being clueless to crafting a game plan. 

Winter: The downfall in the characters occur during this season, which is cold and dark. The hardships the characters go through in their personal life, with the isolation Juno feels, all events resemble a dark and sad time much like the season they are in. 

Spring: This is the light at the end of the tunnel. The winter has reached an end and summer is on the way. The characters in the story begin to meet their resolution during this period. Juno works things out with Bleaker, configures a plan with Vanessa, and finally has the child. 

Summer: Although this is a short part of the film in reference to time, summer plays an immense role in the story. This is the happy times that show how everything ended well. The happy, sunny, and upbeat season brings together Juno and Bleaker, who both seem to be content and in love. This is the happy ending to the film. 

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Works Cited

Barsam, Richard. Looking At Movies: Fourth Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2013

Juno. Dir. Jason Reitman. 2007. Twentieth Century Fox. DVD.