Juno

Jana and I had today, President's Day, off work for some reason, so we took advantage of that and Will being in day care to catch Juno. Cute movie, we liked it.

First, what I didn't like: Diablo Cody's writing, at times. Cody is raking in accolades left and right as the next It writer, but I think everyone might be jumping the gun on her a bit. The dialogue, especially early on, is borderline ridiculous, so much that it's not funny. For instance, in one of the first scenes Rainn Wilson plays a convenience store clerk and rattles off several sentences no one would possibly say. It's like a teenage girl writing for Dawson's Creek or any Aaron Sorkin show.

That said, Cody snaps out of make-my-creative-writing-class-friends-laugh mindset enough to produce a sweet, thoughtful, funny movie. It's a testament to her take on teen pregnancy that people on both sides of the abortion debate are hailing its virtues. And really, the movie is about so much more than just teen pregnancy.

The acting is terrific. Ellen Page deserves all the praise she's been getting. Michael Cera plays the semi-dork I should have just admitted I probably was in high school. Jennifer Garner is convincing as the woman who desperately needs a child, as is Jason Bateman as the husband still clinging to his cool days before moving to St. Cloud. Refreshingly, Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons plays parents who may disagree with their teenager, but are still supportive, and not in a cliche, corny way.

Now, just have to figure out how to get Jana to see Semi-Pro ...