ViewGuide

Created Apr 19, 2008 01:00AM PST • Edited Apr 19, 2008 01:00AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Best Actress Nominee Ellen Page headlines this talky drama-comedy as an intelligent teen contending with an unplanned pregnancy and considers giving the baby in adoption to a young couple while her supportive parents, boyfriend and best friend also factor in. A pop culture phenomenon similar to “Napoleon Dynamite” perpetuated by the reference filled dialogue, which creates poignant moments between Juno and the adopting couple.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Page has a breakthrough performance. Jennifer Garner, plays Vanessa who desperately wants to be a mother while Jason Bateman holds on to his rock and roll days as Mark. Garner’s performance should’ve got her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar® nomination. Even Rainn Wilson (“The Office” television series) gets into the act as a convenience store clerk who matches Juno’s clever, sometimes awkward, vocabulary.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Great music soundtrack and appealing “sketchy” art direction. The commentary from director Jason Reitman (“Thank You For Smoking”) and Oscar® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody has plenty of great moments.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    Potentially raunchy material (for example, “it started in a chair”) is handled with realism and intelligence.

17. Sex Titillating 2.5

18. Violence Fierce 2.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Glib 1.4

    The dialogue can be a bit baffling at times, but otherwise, the acting rings true.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.4

23. Biological Glib 1.4

24. Physical Glib 1.4