Juno!

Caught "Juno" on a spontaneous date with aj. The both of us had wanted really badly to see this pic since it was released, but somehow procrastinated until now. We ought to become movie buddies since we share a penchant for critically-acclaimed movies, most of which are more "thinking" and less of your average popcorn flicks. Then I'd have someone to watch obscure films with!

But don't be mistaken, I love my popcorn flicks and blockbusters. In fact I've caught practically all the major blockbusters released in the past two years. It's just that I have no affinity for poorly reviewed fare, which a lot of these tend to be, and they often turn out to be a woeful waste of time and money that I try to avoid these days.

Ok back to "Juno", which really isn't "obscure" in any sense of the word. A quirky indie sleeper hit, yes, but an accessible one at that. Much more so than "No Country for Old Men", I'd safely say, but this in no way diminishes its merits because it's meant to be a different kind of movie.

My verdict: "Juno" is an absolutely fab, hilarious movie. Definitely one of the best comedies I've watched in a while - better than "Knocked Up" even - because it's lighter on slapstick and heavier on wit.

Who says teen flicks can't be intelligent? "Juno" has plenty of smarts in the form of the sharp-tongued titular character played by the incredibly talented Ellen Page, as well as courtesy of the Oscar-winning script.

The entire movie is peppered with acerbic one-liners, sarcasm-infused drawls and witty retorts that put your brains on overdrive just trying to process all that humour - irony, sardonicism, cultural references and all - spilling forth. But once you get into the swing of it, the laughs come naturally and it's an absolute joy to watch, especially with an appreciative audience.

If you're looking for emotional depth, there's plenty as well. Juno and her coming-of-age story is as endearing as it gets. The potential adoptive parents - Marc (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) - start off as a typical, likeable couple but morph as their personalities emerge and complexities arise in their seemingly comfortable marriage, prompting Juno to question if "love can be forever". Juno's parents, played by the excellent J.K. Simmons (who looks eerily familiar because he's the editor in Spiderman) and Allison Janney, are genial and brimming with compassion. With due credit to the cast, it's "a film bristling with vitality and heart, without resorting to glibness or sentimentality." -USA Today

It's not frequent that a comedy gets nominated for so many academy awards and wins for best original screenplay. The quality genuinely shows.

And to round it off, "'Juno' is hilarious and sweet-tempered, perceptive and surprisingly grounded. It's also a gust of fresh air, perspective-wise." - LA Times

Unreservedly recommended.