This is a movie that a lot of critics praise as one of the best of the past year. I finally got to see and I can see why it was so beloved.

The story is a simple one, but it all comes down to the characters and the performances. Ellen Page as Juno is definitely the heart of the movie. She is a real complete character, not just some stereotype. She starts off as this quirky character who always knows what to say, very confident despite her age (she even says “I’m 16, I am not a kid” or something like that). However as we go on we learn that she is also vulnerable and still hasn’t figured it all out as she wants people to believe.

The other supporting characters are also well rounded ones, despite having little screen time. Juno’s parents are real down to earth people. I loved the scene where Juno tells her about her pregnancy. They were so calm and supportive it should have sounded fake, instead it felt natural.

The adoptive parents were even more interesting. At first we root for the husband, he seems more hip and seems to click with Juno. Whereas the wife seems too uptight and serious. By the end our perception totally changes, not because the characters change, but because we realize what’s important in life.

There are so many great scenes in this movie, I loved the scene where Juno confronts the father of her baby after she discovers he’s going to the prom with another girl. Michael Cera worked very well with Ellen Page.

However this is also a comedy, and there are plenty of laughs in this movie. Mostly they come from Juno’s witty dialog, she really is a funny girl. One scene that pops in my mind is when he goes to the abortion clinic and is stopped by his schoolmate.

There is a lot of heart in this movie, the characters feel real and there is also plenty of laughs. What more can we want from a movie?

Rating: 4 Stars