I just got back from a free screening and I just have a few thoughts to share...
the marketing
free t shirts and a massive free screening campaign for an 'indie' film?
the music
the ultra indie acoustic pop grew incredibly tiresome. At first I liked it but most of the songs were especially redundant. How many times can you play a vamp with whispery lyrics?
the dialog
the grungespeak and cooler than though punk stuff was just grating to sit through. I was surprised to hear them sing Doll Parts though. That was bad ass but I just felt the music and movie speak to be incredibly poorly written and performed.
the performances
Allison Janney is by far the best part in almost every film she is in. She is great here and at some point should be recognized for her exceptional work. Page and Cera were both very good but I found their relationship to be poorly developed. There was no sense of urgency. Juno's sudden rush to be with him in the end felt very unnatural. Even worse was the relationship with her and Batemen. Garner was also very very good.
overall it was just too sappy indie for my liking. It's not bad by any means though but not award worthy or rewatchable really. Globes, maybe but Oscars? no way. I've grown tired this year with the antiabortion message in films. At least this movie made it an option but the scene that Batemen showed her immediately made it very clear to me that this movie was very anti abortion. I suppose we haven't moved far enough along to have an abortion themed comedy? :P
The neverending sappy happy ending song and kiss were vomit inducing as well.
final grade: C+