Juno

The Plot: Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

The Pros: Ellen Page's performance is magnificent. She allows herself to be swallowed by her character, in turn making the entire film more believable. Michael Cera is also genuinely impressive in his role as a quiet and awkward boy who unintentionally causes Juno's pregnancy. The part could not have been better cast. The indie soundtrack is also very pleasing to the ears and appropriate when placed in the film's context.

The Cons: My major complaint with this film is the inconsistent writing. Despite what the actors try and make of it, there are certain scenes that seem as though they were put together by two entirely different writers. Some lines in these instances become choppy or cheesy.

The Bottom Line: Juno is a wonderful film that suffers from occasionally bad writing decisions. It's great to know, however, that there are two very capable young actors (Page and Cera) who are ready and willing to jump head-first into the script to save the day. And they do a great job. This film succeeds on many levels, and that usually makes up for small writing holes in what is otherwise a well-spirited and lovable trip to the movies.

The Score: 7.5 / 10