movie thoughts: Juno

[orangerful]

Juno (Single-Disc Edition)

I think, for me, this movie suffered from the over-hype that happens to so many independent movies nowadays.  I kept hearing so much about how good this movie was, how great Ellen Page was, how awesome the writing was blah blah blah.

I wanted to like this movie.  I sat down with every intention of liking it. 

But it didn't really do anything for me.  I felt everyone's acting, especially Page's, was really stiff and forced (since I don't think they knew what they were saying half the time).  I think I knew too many kids like that in high school, kids that liked the bands that no one had ever heard of, random flicks no one cared about, but then acted better than everyone because of it.  Wasn't too fond of them.  And I almost feel like people (read: critics) felt obligated to say they liked this movie because to say that they didn't would mean that they were not capable of enjoying an "unusually intelligent comedy" as the DVD case art clearly states.

I still adore Michael Cera.  When he was on screen, I was happy.  I mean, he was just being George Michael, but still.  Jason Bateman did a good job, but his character was a total ass.  Jennifer Gardner was also good but her character was sorta meh.  I liked Juno's best friend (okay, I'm starting to realize how I don't remember ANY of the character's names...that can't be a good sign)

Pretty much I didn't like a lot of the characters.  After it won best screenplay, I was ready for some great story and witty dialogue, but I didn't feel like it had anything highly quotable.  I never felt I go to know any of the characters.  It all felt like a Michael Crichton-style characterization (Juno: a girl with brown hair and a bit of a 'tude.  Vanessa: long brown hair, adult, works, wants to be a mom...and so on).  I felt Juno's learning experience came too late in the movie and there wasn't enough build up for it, so I didn't really care.  I wasn't clear on her relationships with most of the characters, most importantly with the Jason Batemen and Jennifer Gardner's characters, especially at the end. 

It wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't like 'Little Miss Sunshine' where you know that, even though it was rough at times, you want to watch it again and again.  I probably won't watch 'Juno' again.  There were no characters or moments to bring me back. 

I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I had seen it before the hype...ah well, the world will never know.  I'm giving it a solid 2.5/3 outta 5.

Originally posted on orangerful.vox.com

Comments

[spitefairy.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Juno once I got past the first um half hour or so. It wasn't the best movie ever, but once it stopped trying to be edgy and cool, I think it was a lot cooler.

I absolutely agree about this movie AND those freakin hipster kids. I refuse to own Donny Darko, you can't make me!

Overall: agree. Flat flat flat!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that "Juno" is to "hipster movies" was like the "Second Life" is to MMORPGs. True hipsters (which is really code for people that were geeks, nerds, and outcasts in high school) call shenanigans when they see a film that portrays them in such a light, yet people that never experienced it think that is what is must be like to be so clever all the time. True MMORPG gamers look at Second Life and say WTF, why would anyone waste time on this crap? But wannabes see it and say Oh wow, this is the most cool thing ever and this must be what geeks do all day.

Hows that for a stretch? I may or may not be hung over....

I saw Donnie Darko once...aaaand I hardly remember anything about it.

[dstntp1lgr1m.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to say I loved Donnie Darko, but I've only seen it once.

And my thing with it was the ARG that went along with it. There was an internet experience that Raven and I played with before actually seeing the movie.

When I saw the movie, the ARG didn't make me understand it any better, but it was like - "hmmmm, that's nifty, ok then."

I won't preach that I fully understand a movie like Darko, but I appreciated it, and I so say there is a divide.

Some like Donnie Darko.... and others are all about The Butterfly Effect.... and in my opinion, the Butterfly Effect is sorta the same movie, same idea, it just spoonfeeds the plot to a null audience.

I like my Darko, but I don't need others to like it. It's quirky, and odd, so it's me.

Juno..... Raven wants us to watch it badly so I think we finally get a taste tonight. I'll keep you posted.

[bittertwee.livejournal.com]

I felt the same way.. although my reaction ended up being even more negative than yours, I think. I felt like Diablo Cody was trying to clobber us over the head with how cool and hip she is, but the dialog was one clunker after another. The fact that you're such a pop culture and movie quote person and you couldn't find anything quotable speaks volumes.

(I've heard Juno defenders imply that people who like Joss Whedon's and Kevin Smith's writing but not Diablo Cody's must have issues with women, which is ridiculous, but I'd have to think about it to figure out why the Juno dialogue is different. Any ideas?)

My problem was similar to yours also, in that I was too aware of the hype, and also sort of aware of what people didn't like. And worse, I knew there were two B&S songs in the movie, so after the first 20 minutes as I was starting to think "my god, this isn't very good", I was so afraid that there was going to be a Garden State "this song will change your life" moment with a B&S song, I went into panic mode. Because if that ever happened, I knew I'd have to jump off a bridge or something. Thankfully it didn't.

But I do wonder what my opinion would have been if I'd gone in knowing nothing. I think I might have been more positive. Although I dunno, those first 20 minutes or so are really rough (the convenience store, the stupid recliner on the sidewalk, the pipe, the women's health clinic, "homeskillet", "honest to blog".. oh god, it's all coming back.. ok never mind, my opinion would have been the same)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I disagree that it has anything to do with having issues with women. Whedon's and Smith's "hipster" dialogue is not meant to alienate but to bring us together. The references are not in there to say "Hey, I'm better than you because I like a, b, and c" but more like "hey, we're all big losers together because you recognized my reference to a, b, c." In Juno I felt all the sub-pop-culture references that were made were done to make me feel inferior. Saying that it is because Diablo Cody is a woman is just ridiculous and an attempt to guilt people into deciding they like it.

[sideflip1.livejournal.com]

ya know i had similar feelings on this movie. i heard it was great and was like ok i should see it, and i think the i suffered from the over-hype of it as well. i thought it was decent, had some good scenes, but nothing stellar. although i like the actress when she played her role in XMen.

i liked Little Miss Sunshine way better!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

OMG I forgot Ellen Page was Kitty Pryde...now I really didn't like her acting in 'Juno'. Whoever told her to deliver the lines in that style made a mistake.

[jellibean.livejournal.com]

I really wanted to see Juno when it came out because I heard a lot of good things about it. I read one or two reviews that was critical of the sarcastic dialogue, but it still looked good.

But the scenes they've shown on the DVD commercials annoy me. None of the characters sound sincere--just sarcastic, like they're trying to be ironic. I just don't know if I can sit through a movie where I don't connect with the protagonist.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I think you hit it on the head - they sound more sarcastic than sincere and I felt I never knew them as people because nothing they said revealed anything about their character except that they were smart-asses. :\