© Fox Searchlight Pictures

It’s not often that a film can change how you feel about film. It’s not often a teen comedy provides more insight than most acclaimed dramas. It’s not often a movie is so special that as you’re in the theatre, you actually take notice, and thank the movie heavens for such a miracle. It’s not often you enter a movie with such high hopes and are still surprised. It’s rare. Juno is such an experience.

The magnificent, Canadian Ellen Page plays Juno, a 16 year old who suddenly finds herself pregnant. The father to be, Paulie Bleeker, played by the magnificent, Canadian Micheal Cera, isn’t even her boyfriend. Paulie is a good friend, who, one night and one night only, was something more. Rather then beginning with the act that leaves Juno in such a difficult situation. We begin with that difficult situation. We get to follow and observe every consequence and lesson learned.

The film presents itself in four parts, Autumn, Winter, Spring and finally Summer. First with an abortion clinic, then a change of mind, and then a search for adopting parents. Every bump along the way is executed brilliantly. The wonderful cast of characters, from Juno, her parents, best friend, and the (seemingly) aspiring parents is pitch perfect. In fact, this may be my favourite portrayal of people I have ever seen. Honest, fair and wise, never has a comedy been so insightful.

It’s quite amazing, when, in a year with the classics “Knocked Up”, an excellent tale of a unexpected pregnancy, and “Superbad”, a superb high school movie (both delivered from the film Gods Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow), that one movie can surpass both in nearly every way. It’s quite ironic that the film in question is a masterpiece about an unexpected pregnancy in high school.

The script is perfect, the acting is phenomenal, the soundtrack is charming, the characters are endearing. The magnificent, Canadian director, Jason Reitman creates another winner. There are a couple promising titles still on the horizon in 2007, such as P. T. Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. But unless they truly are something rare, surprising and special, then they don’t stand a chance. The film of the year has arrived.

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