Dancing the 'Juno' Jig

In Juno, which opens today, Ellen Page plays a witty, fast-tongued 14-year-old in the precipitous situation of being knocked up by a classmate (Michael Cera) from their high school running team. Page, a twenty-one year old actress with bustling energy and a subtle sense of humor that fits her character, plays Juno as an adorable puppy hipster, nipping at the heels of anyone trying to be smarter than her. The rest of the cast is strong, as well, including Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner as parents trying adopt Juno’s incoming child and the amusingly gruff JK Simmons as her father. And while Jason Reitman (no longer just the son of Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, but the noted auteur behind Thank You for Smoking) does a fine job as director, the movie is really a beast set loose by its screenplay. Much has been made about first time screenwriter [Diablo Cody] making her big debut—especially since she has a background as a stripper and comes across as totally punk rock.

While not everything about Juno is totally sound—the plot gets a little flimsy halfway through and the constant references to pop culture grow irritable—Cody often does prove herself to be an utterly unique wordsmith, capable of probing teenage misery with a combination of cynicism and insight. While the story is fairly conventional, Cody’s script contains a surprising level of vituperative wit and conniving self-deprecation reminiscent of Annie Hall. (Interestingly enough, Juno’s pal, played by Olivia Thirlby, at one point declares her love for Woody Allen in a goofy attempt at seduction.) Cody doesn’t set up funny situations so much as funny people, which makes her writing utterly distinct. That might be because she never intended to make movies (read her hilarious early account of falling into the trade [here]), but it has helped her gain a fast reputation in Hollywood. “I call her ‘The New Tarantino,’” says Reitman, a producer on Cody’s next project, Jennifer’s Body. “One thing I love about the screenplay is that it doesn’t judge any of the characters. They make decisions for human reasons, not political reasons.”

Cody, for her part, has only good things to say about the director of her first script, but not before dropping one of her trademark quips. “I actually hate men,” she jokes. “My balls are in her backpack.” Then the duo gets serious. Sort of. “Jason really tapped into his softer side when making this film. He has a really soft outlook on things,” Cody explains. “By contrast, I am an aggressive, manly woman. There’s kind of a weird balance there. I’m the dude.” Reitman agrees. “I’m the chick in this relationship,” he says. “Diablo came to me one day and said, ‘Man, Jason, you’re really showing your vagina on this one.’” Cody drops the clincher. “Plus,” she says, “women can’t direct. They’re prone to hysteria.”