This review highlights one of Mark's greater traits and that's being able to measure out the distance between a movie and politics. He knows exactly when a film is making a statement or is simply using elements that may be political at the time. Truly a testament to his incredible knowledge of film.
dunno, i was 17 when i saw juno and some teenagers do talk like that. obviously, this was a bit more condensed to make the film more entertaining, but it sounded very much like how a lot of my friends spoke. plus juno herself didn't seem that smart at all, just like someone who's watched a lot of mock the week. witty and intelligent, yes. wise and clever, no.
I generally agreed with this apart the LMS but. how was little miss sunshine not trying to make the beauty pageant a horrible place. The main characters make fools out of themselves there and we love them for it.
Think you're right. I guess what he is saying is that because the family end up by supporting her at the pageant then the film carves in on its overall message, and that the darker tone of the early part is lost. But like you I think the ending works quite well. Really like Juno too.
I agree, that beauty pageant was shown as being hideously unnatural and horrifically shallow, run by nasty elitist control freaks and hosted by guy who looked and talked like a creepy weirdo. They didn't try to heighten the creepiness because they would have been dishonest and manipulative in order to push an agenda, all they had to do was show the pageant as it really is, because it's just naturally creepy, shallow, and unnatural.
I wonder if the films critics in these comments are cine-literate. Either way, regardless of whether the film is good or not I enjoyed it and it made me laugh, much more than 20 times.
I am sorry @fieldingmellish44 @4gearkier @neonman78 Juno is a great film. The acting for all of the main cast is on good form and the whole tone of the film is good
*not that I'm insinuating Sandler is in it, I know its Ben Stiller I was just giving another example... and yes I know how silly it looks to reply to my own comments.
People don't speak in the way that the kids do in 'Brick' or like the guys from 'Things to do in Denver when you're dead' either but it makes the films more interesting as far as I'm concerned (02:00ish). Although hearing Ellen Page say "for shizzle" made me pull a muscle in my back from the sudden cringe...
I'll tell you what didn't make me laugh though, just about every single major Hollywood comedy film ever since Scary Movie came out, that includes anything with Adam Sandler. Give me a film like Sideways any day over Meet the Parents.
Yes, her 'smart' direlog really got on my nerves. Not just because most teenagers do NOT talk in that hyper-charged ultra-Kevin-Williamson style. Just cos none of it was clever and funny, just stupid. I dunno. That's all I can say.
I love Ellen Page, but I motherf*cking hate this movie. There was no wit to ANY of the dialogue, just smart-arse posturing, the vocal equivalent of a shit-eating grin. And THAT is considered so wonderful it wins Best Screenplay!? I don't care if some teenagers do talk like that; but I DO care about having to sit there and listen to it for two hours. I care so much that I despise this stupid film. (Diablo Cody went on to script Jennifer's Body and Young Adult - both far superior to this mush.)
