So I saw Juno...

Every Christmas evening I go to the movies. This year I opted for Juno. The theatre was surprisingly packed for a 4:00pm on Christmas. With Kiterunner and The Great Debaters already sold out and standing on the back of a long line with only 25 minutes til the movie started, I wasn't feeling too confident in getting tickets. Luckily enough, simultaneously with the two tickets being placed in my hands the guy behind the ticket counter announced that Juno has been sold out. For the first time probably ever, I had to bypass the refreshment counter in favor of getting a seat. Predictably my special lady friend and I had to sit in the second row. Normally I have a problem with this because the last time I had to sit up front for a movie was actually 7 years to the day for Dracula 2000 (Gerard Butler...how far you have come). Even though it was a terrible movie, my head actually had to turn from side to side to follow the action and I still think I have the kink in my neck. Nevertheless, I knew that this movie was a dialouge driven film and probably wouldn't have to lube up my neck joints for it. As for the movie, I really enjoyed it. The dialogue was fast-paced and chock full of pop-culture references which is always a hit with me. There was only one problem I had with the movie and it did have to do with some of the dialogue. For the most part the slangy phrases worked but once and awhile it was overkill. It was only two or three times total but it was glaring enough to me where I thought about it and I imagine that's not what the film makers want me to be thinking at those moments. Other than that, Ellen Page was great (very pleased to find out she's 20 for reasons I don't want to delve in to here). One could even say she was perfect for the role of Juno. I celebrate everything Micheal Cera does at this point. Even though I'm a little nervous that he's a one trick pony with his perfected timing in doing the awkward and uncomfortable thing. Even if he is, that's a pony I'd like to ride for awhile. That sounded bad. J.K. Simmons and Jason Bateman were also very good. Simmons as Juno's dad was perfect in playing the disappointed but supportive father. The one character that I didn't particularly care for was Juno's best friend Leah. She was slightly irritating but I guess that it was nessesary since Juno was a pretty mature 16 year old and Leah was that reminder that she is only 16. The soundtrack fit the movie well also. It was mostly "cute" acoustic guitar, indie-rock stuff but also some cool stuff from Belle and Sebastian, and the Sonic Youth cover of Superstar by The Carpenters that I forgot existed.