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</script></div>{/googleAds}Unplanned pregnancy isn't the easiest topic to discuss in any forum, and tends to lean toward rather strong views at either end of the spectrum. In the world of film, the topic has normally been relegated to the 'Movie-Of-The-Week' basket, where we get treated to cautiously sanitised journeys of pretty young ‘unfortunates' with difficult choices ahead...

The past twelve months has seen three theatrical releases face this topic head on. Each with vastly different approaches; each with different genres underpinning the story; and each with roaring success. Apatow's Knocked Up took an unplanned pregnancy to ludicrous extremes and managed to infuse an endearing heart to its tale; the tragic Adrienne Shelley's Waitress successfully combined a Rom-Com/Journey picture with a perspective only such an event can bring to a seemingly lost soul; but perhaps the most impressive is a film that deals with a teenaged unplanned pregnancy that makes it about the girl and the people affected instead of 'the issue' that film is Juno.

Written by (now deserved Oscar-winner) Diablo Cody, Juno follows a fringe-dwelling 16 year-old, who - after a night of intended, curious exploration - finds herself with child. What follows is the quirky journey of an intelligent young woman trying to decide what's best for her and her unborn child. Replete with some of the sharpest, original dialogue a film has seen in a dog's age and a story that avoids the need to preach or judge, what unfolds in the following couple of hours is the joy of seeing grounded, albeit eccentric human characters, adjusting and adapting their lives as best they can after Juno announces she's pregnant.

Every character is infused with a rich personality, and the changes comic, dramatic or otherwise - each goes through following Juno's bombshell unfurl organically, never feeling tacked on. The somewhat nonchalant humor is tempered masterfully by unmanufactured heart. From the father and step-mom to the boyfriend to the oh-so-highly strung Jennifer Garner character, (don't wanna give away her role) all demonstrate unrelenting affection/influence over Juno that grounds every part of the story to a relatable journey that will glue your eyes to the screen.

Ellen Page wowed critics a couple of years back with her turn in Hard Candy, and as Juno, she concretes her relatively new presence in Hollywood as a force of nature in acting terms. While missing out on the Oscar this year, its not hard to see this gifted young performer is just warming up. The supporting cast from J K. Simmons, Allison Janning, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman and Superbad's Michael Cera, add nothing but layer upon rich layer to the story.

Jason Reitman's direction is a perfect match to the script. Unobtrusive use of the camera allows the characters to take you where they want to go emotionally, letting their words instead of contrived shots move you.

The choice of music adds flavour to the title character's personality and eccentricities, and is used poignantly and sparingly to great effect.

There is nothing more gratifying than seeing an unpretentious smaller film capture the world's attention away from big bang movies and marquee names when its only intention is to be the best kind of story it can be. Transcending either blockbuster or Indie darling pretensions, Juno earns a classification too-often afforded overblown attempts from either film word the ‘masterpiece'. Juno is a masterpiece and a credit to all involved.


DVD

DVD Details:

Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; deleted scenes; gag reel; director's commentary.

* Commentary - director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody
* Deleted Scenes Eleven deleted scenes for a total of (20:20) with optional commentary.
* Featurettes
o "Gag Reel" (5:10)
o "Gag Take" (1:52)
o "Cast and Crew Jam" (03:10)
o "Screen Tests" (22:30)
* Trailers - for Lars and the Real Girl; Charlie Bartlett; Bonneville; 27 Dresses; The Savages

Number of discs: - 1- Keepcase Packaging{pgomakase}