Movie #330 - Juno

Juno
2007 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 36 min
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, JK Simmons, Rainn Wilson

Finally, a movie about teen pregnancy that's not a heart-breaking drama.  In fact, it's funny. Really funny. Ellen Page's quirky Juno is priceless, always quick with the pickup and always ready with an off-beat joke.  Rad.

One of my favorite things about this movie is the cast.  Overall, it's cast really well: Allison Janney has some great moments as Brenda, Juno's stepmom.  Garner and Bateman make the unlikely pair they portray believable.  JK Simmons is the coolest, calmest, most collected dad of a teen mom I've ever seen, but it works. And Michael Cera staked his claim on the charming geek-boy domain with this film, transitioning smoothly from his charming geek-boy character on Arrested Development. It's almost the same character, just on the big screen and in running shorts.  But he does it so well, it makes sense.

Diablo Cody made her screenwriting debut with this gem of a flick, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from her.  With dialogue that's clever and witty, characters that could be your own friends or neighbors, and a plot that's simple but realistic, I really enjoy this movie all around.

Movie #291 - I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man
2009 - Rated R - 1 hr 45 min
Director: John Hamburg
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Sarah Burns, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Jane Curtin, JK Simmons, Andy Samberg

Who doesn't love this movie? Paul Rudd's so adorably awkward that you can't help but laugh.  And the modern bro-mance is forever captured here on film.  The twist on the rom-com is clever and the relationship between our two "bros" is fun and realistic. It may not be heavy on the thinking, but it's a good laugh.

It's also nice to see the Hulk working again, sleeper holds and all.  The Lou Ferrigno subplot is one of the best parts of this movie, as well as the Rush concert cameo.  There's enough here to make this a great comedy, even if the plot is a tad bit predictable.  But hey, isn't using two dudes in a rom-com enough of a twist to keep things interesting?