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Jill M. Revelle

Public Relations

SWF, 30, seeking open-minded individuals of all ages and walks of life to talk life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Let's face it: if you can't laugh at yourself, there's no shortage of other people to do it for you....

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Chick Flick

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I was at Starbucks this morning, grabbing my customary chai latte and blueberry scone (don’t judge... scone addiction can be both painful and humiliating, but so berry-riffically tasty...), when I saw on their media rack the newly released DVD of last year’s Oscar best-picture black horse, “Juno.”

For those who haven’t seen this delicious little slice of life, make it part of your weekend plans.

(For those of you not familiar with the premise, the story follows 16-year-old free spirit Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page), who becomes pregnant after her first sexual experience with best guy pal Paulie Bleeker. After toying briefly with the idea of an abortion, Juno – whose pragmatism lends both the humor and the heart to the character – decides to come clean to her parents and put the baby up for adoption instead. Through an add in the local Pennysaver paper, she finds the perfect suburban yuppie couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) to raise her child.

I won’t ruin the end, but suffice to say that although not everything goes according to plan, it all ends up for the best.

When Juno debuted, stripper-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody was criticized for her blatant, humorous take on teen pregnancy with charges of making it look “too easy.”

I think they were missing the point.

For though Juno’s state of affairs is definitely drives the plot, teen pregancy and the consequences thereof are really the least of the lessons this film preaches. Instead, viewers are treated to a very touching reminder of what it means to be a family, and how important a good support network can be.

It also examines the myth of the “perfect couple” and the “perfect relationship,” scratching through the pristine paint job to reveal some rusty truths underneath and helping young Juno to realize what’s really important when it comes to life, love and a gangly boy in gold running shorts.

And though I titled this entry “chick flick,” don’t think that your own gangly boy won’t approve – there’s enough snarky commentary and J.K. Simmons (who plays Juno’s blue-collar father) to keep a fella entertained.

So if the critics initially scared you away on this one, ignore ‘em. “Juno” is a true little bundle of joy.