JUNO: Knocks Over Knocked Up
 I cannot remember the last time I sat through an entire movie where I got to feel an array of emotions that were not “disgusted” or “let down”. JUNO is Jason Reitman’s wonderfully crafted tale about a high school Junior named Juno McGruff (Ellen Page) and her quest to make good
After taking three pregnancy tests at a neighborhood convenience store Juno realizes she’s pregnant. At first she’s surprisingly cavalier about the entire thing, flashing back to the moment of conception in the basement of her best friend’s house. She tells her best friend and then opts to tell Paulie
After a trip to the abortion clinic Juno realizes nipping it in the bud isn’t her most likely option and after meeting with her best friend, decides to look for a family in the Penny Saver and out pops Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark Loring (Jason Batemen), the picture perfect couple that so desperately wants a child. After holding her parents hostage with the news of her pregnancy they both say they hoped it would be drugs or problems at school, but agree to support her decision even though they do not exactly agree with it or think it will be easy.
Juno and her father, Mac McGruff (J.K. Simmons) venture outside Minneapolis to meet with Vanessa and Mark and seal the deal—so to speak. After meeting with the couple Juno declares that she doesn’t want an open adoption, and if given the option she would bake the ba
Juno tells Paulie that her parents do not plan to rat him out to his mother and he has nothing to worry about. Paulie’s awkward sincerity makes him easily lovable and Juno knows this. When Paulie says she’s still as beautiful as ever and maybe they can get back together after things die down (after Juno gives that ba
Mark tells Juno that he’s super unhappy and plans to leave Vanessa and move to the city to be a musician. Juno really loses it and tells him that Sonic Youth is just a bunch of noise and runs out of the house visibly upset. On her way out she bumps into Vanessa who’s coming home from work and it prompts Mark to admit he plans to leave because he has no interest in becoming a father. Juno leaves, but before she’s gone she leaves a note for Vanessa.
Juno realizes that she’s in love with Paulie and the dumbest thing she can do is push him away. She finds him on the track at school and confesses that she didn’t want him to go to prom with Soup Girl and the two finally kiss. In the spring, Juno finally goes into labor and gives birth to a baby boy that Vanessa proudly accepts the responsibility of—without Mark or anyone else. Juno lies in the hospital bed completely despondent that she’s given a little part of herself away and Mac tells her that someday she’ll be back here on her own terms. Then Paulie shows up and gets into bed with Juno while she cries. The scene is well done, as I was not apt to stab Jason Reitman to death in the middle of the Arclight theaters. I actually even choked up a bit. Gosh, I’m bitchy, but not totally heartless.
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