5 OUT OF 5 STARS

KATIE BRADFORD
Christmas break, besides
being a time to relax and
celebrate with family, is also
the time for studios to make
big bucks at the box office.
A wide array of big budget
blockbusters will be at your
disposal this season, and you
may be tempted to follow
the hype that surrounds films
such as National Treasure:
Book of Secrets, offering
big effects and big stars.
However, I would urge you
to also consider the under-
dog; the little movie that
could that has captured my
heart this holiday.
Juno is the quirky com-
edy from Canadian direc-
tor Jason Reitman about a
16-year-old girls unwanted
pregnancy during her junior
year. Her decision to give
the child up for adoption,
and the trials and tribula-
tions she goes through, are
the center of this delightful
screenplay by newcomer
Diablo Cody. Cody, a former
stripper, author and popular
blogger, obviously also has
a knack for screenwriting.
Some of the most hilarious
sayings that come from her
characters include honest to
blog? and fo shizz up the
spout. Some find this quick,
wacky and sarcastic banter
to be unrealistic, but I assure
you, I know people who
speak this way; it is brilliant.
In addition to having me in
stitches, there are moments
of heartbreak in this film that
stick with me long after hav-
ing left the theatre.
MAD ABOUT IT
I am madly in love with
this movie. Firstly, might I
commend the filmmakers
for choosing not only great
talent, but also actors who
actually look high school
aged (the 16 year-olds on
Gossip Girl look old enough
to run for office).
El l en Page por t r ays
the young Juno MacGuff.
Sarcastic and quick wit-
ted, Page proves herself to
be one of the most irresist-
ible young acting talents to
come out of Canada recent-
ly. She is coupled with fel-
low Canadian Michael Cera,
who recently found stardom
on televisions Arrested
Development and summer
hit Superbad. He is so real-
istically awkward as baby-
daddy/best friend Paulie
Bleeker that he actually
could have been one of my
high school classmates. The
chemistry between them is
also incredibly authentic and
natural.
The supporting actors are
also magnificent. Jennifer
Garner is wonderful as the
high strung adoptive moth-
er Vanessa who Juno finds
in the want-ads, and Jason
Bateman is also good as her
husband Mark. Junos step-
mother Bren is played hilari-
ously by Allison Janney
and her dumbstruck father
is taken on masterfully by
J.K. Simmons. Her airy
best friend Leah is played
quite well by Olivia Thirlby,
another character Im con-
vinced I went to high school
with.
The characters in the
film are not only funny
and vibrant, but are also all
flawed. There is no villain,
and while Juno is definitely
relatable, she isnt a hero
that young women should
necessarily aspire to. Her
profound naivety is often
revealed when she is placed
in situations she admits to be
far beyond (her) maturity
level.
The film is also visually
beautiful to watch. Creative
and whimsical, there are
sequences in which rough
pencil animations are fused
with real-life ones to create
a fun effect. This is paired
with a wonderfully whimsi-
cal and surprising soundtrack
that matches the visual and
writing style perfectly.
Topped off with a refresh-
ingly non-Hollywood end-
ing, this is an incredibly sat-
isfying film. Add that to the
pride I feel as a Canadian,
and the jumble of Golden
Globe nominations I can
excitedly cheer for this
month, and Im completely
obsessed. Why not join in on
the fun?
JANUARY 11, 2008 - KANATA KOURIER-STANDARD - PAGE 29
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Arts & Entertainment
REEL REVIEWS
Fresh acting and writing makes Juno best of season
KANATA THEATRE
Kanata Theatre kicks off the New
Year with The Seagull by Anton
Chekhov.
Why perform a play by a dead
Russian who breathed his last more
than a century ago?
Anton Chekhov gave the world
more than 600 short stories, 10 one-
act farces, and seven full length plays
of which the last four rank with the
worlds greatest works for stage.
Kanata Theatre will be performing
a new translation of The Seagull by
Tom Stoppard. As well as being one
of the foremost English playwrights,
Stoppard is a skilled adapter of the
plays of central and eastern Europe.
His text, consciously designed for the
actor, has a natural feel that allows
Chekhovs genius to shine through.
Kanata Theatres production of The
Seagull is its first of a Chekhov play.
The company is sparing no effort.
Dozens of people have been working
for months on all aspects of the show.
Ian Carlisle designed and supervised
the construction of the sets.
The Seagull directed by Jim Holmes,
runs in the Ron Maslin Playhouse, 1
Ron Maslin Way, Tuesday to Saturday
Feb. 5 to 16. Curtain is at 8 p.m. sharp.
Tickets are $15. The box office num-
ber is 831 4435. You may obtain infor-
mation at www.kanatatheatre.com.
The Seagull takes flight in February
Kanata Theatre will tackle Anton Chekhov's The Seagull
in February.