Juno

Even though Juno isn’t anything you haven’t seen before and definitely isn’t that complex plot-wise, it creates a very dynamic and natural atmosphere exactly because of that.
The dialogue, shaped by sarcasm, occasionally shifts to a more serious tone, allowing the viewer to form an emotional bond with the characters while further conveying the film’s themes.
What makes it different is the way it approaches the characters’ problems. Despite being pregnant at 16, Juno continues to crack jokes almost carelessly, even when dealing with situations that would be overwhelming for most people.
There are multiple hints pointing towards how the movie will end and how the characters will develop. The never fully addressed sexual tension between Juno and Mark, and the with that connected offending of marital boundaries, clearly foreshadows Mark’s plans to leave Vanessa. Meanwhile, the baby kicking for Vanessa hints at her eventually getting to keep the baby.
Visually, the movie is really pleasing, thanks to its costumes and the colours used to represent the different seasons. The contrast between Juno’s colourful life and Mark and Vanessa’s black-and-white house further reinforces the differences between their lives. At the same time, it keeps the viewer from forming a definitive first impression of Mark and Vanessa based solely on their home and surroundings. We can only assume that they’re rich snobs, but we can’t be entirely sure until the story progresses.
Vanessa especially grows on me because of Jennifer Garner’s natural and emotionally convincing performance. Jason Bateman also does a great job conveying the tension between his character and the others. Elliot Page really takes the cake with a super natural feeling performance and perfect comedic timing, while Michael Cera is also there.
The soundtrack was fire and really enjoyable to listen to.
All in all, it‘s a classic feel good movie, that is also actually good. From the performances, to the visual aspects, over to the dialogue, everything goes hand in hand and creates a film that defines the coming-of-age genre.