Juno & The Death Of The Teen Comedy

Spark Of Spirit · February 03, 2012, 06:00:26 PM

Has anyone here seen that documentary "Don't You Forget About Me" on John Hughes? Well, it's not all that good for several reasons (not even ONE mention of John Candy is ridiculous) but one part stuck out to me.

One of the interviewers mentioned how John Hughes made the teen film good because he wrote characters as real people and not phony stereotypes of what people think teenagers are. His plots are never biased and always seem to unfold naturally which is why they were great movies and this particular person was inspired by him. Who was this person? Why none other than Jason Reitman director of Juno.

Now I have nothing against Reitman, he's a pretty good director, but for someone who claims he understood the teen comedy he sure didn't show it in Juno. What happened to when teenagers were written as people and not hip-lingo spewing cynical stereotypes that reference pop culture from twenty years before their birth? The film goes on to say that the studios are at fault, but judging from the "teen film makers" they interviewed (who made such impeccable teen fare as Not Another Teen Movie, Easy A, Napoleon Dynamite, and the aforementioned Juno) make these EXACT SAME MISTAKES they keep railing on about in their films.

I don't get it. These people know why teen films suck now, but then they turn around and make films that make the exact same mistakes as what they detest. Why can't anyone make a good teen film anymore?

I mean they list the problems RIGHT THERE in that film, but nobody in it does anything about it. I just don't understand what the problem is with Hollywood.

Foggle · February 03, 2012, 07:05:53 PM

Juno wasn't Reitman's fault, though. Diablo Cody was the writer responsible for that shitfest.

Spark Of Spirit · February 03, 2012, 07:11:00 PM

I don't blame him for Juno's terrible, terrible script, just that he's actually a part of the problem by making these films he's criticizing.

He's not even a bad director... Though the first 15 minutes of Juno is pretty bad at everything including direction.

Rosalinas Spare Wand · February 03, 2012, 09:32:35 PM

I blame Michael Cera.

Spark Of Spirit · February 03, 2012, 11:31:17 PM

Well, at least the latest Diablo Cody/Jason Reitman joint -Young Adult- bombed.

That one looked awful. I'm glad audiences thought so too, as these lousy movies have more than worn out their welcome.

Commode · February 03, 2012, 11:43:18 PM

May I say that I really don't get the hate for Michael Cera? Granted, I've only seen four movies with him in it, Superbad, Scott Pilgrim, Nick and Norah, and Juno, but only one of those I don't like is Juno. I guess I can see why some people don't like him, but I don't get the full blown hate.

Avaitor · February 03, 2012, 11:45:21 PM

It's because he plays the same role in practically every movie he's in. I think his shtick was okay in Superbad and he did a decent Scott Pilgrim, but otherwise it does get old.

Also, Arrested Development is overrated. End of story.

Dr. Insomniac · February 04, 2012, 12:08:21 AM

Quote from: Avaitor on February 03, 2012, 11:45:21 PM

Also, Arrested Development is overrated. End of story.

Spark Of Spirit · February 04, 2012, 12:11:39 AM

I have no issues with Cera, he just gets way too many roles despite his limited range. He's no Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Quote from: Avaitor on February 03, 2012, 11:45:21 PMAlso, Arrested Development is overrated. End of story.

I feel the same. The show was decent but as far as sitcoms go it was no Titus or NewsRadio.

Heck, Ken Titus is like 50 times more likable than anyone on Arrested Development and he's almost always the antagonist!

Kiddington · February 04, 2012, 12:16:19 AM

Count me in as another who doesn't really see what the Cera hate is all about. I mean, it's not like he's a truly bad actor or something (there are many far worse than him); I guess if anything, he's just boring.

Juno really sucks, though. I think we can all agree on that.

Commode · February 04, 2012, 12:26:37 AM

Man, it's funny you mention it, my buddy is on a huge Titus kick right now. I vaguely remember watching the show back in the day, alongside other perennial Fox favorites like Greg the Bunny and Cedric the Entertainer Presents, but I don't remember much about it. I should probably copy his shit off his hard drive so I can revisit it.

Nel_Annette · February 04, 2012, 12:29:14 AM

I had no problem with Cera in that movie. It was mostly that awful "look how quirky and clever I am" dialogue that made me want to smack the Stop button and throw the dvd out the window. Does... does anybody actually talk like that? That would annoy the everloving shit out of me in real life.

Kiddington · February 04, 2012, 12:33:47 AM

The only thing that amazes me more than Diablo Cody going straight from this to Jennifer's Body, is the fact that critics absolutley fucking LOVED this movie. And I still don't see it.

Five years later, and still a big ol' 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, why? Just... why?

Spark Of Spirit · February 04, 2012, 12:34:33 AM

Nobody talks like that in real life from my experience. Most people tend to talk about... y'know things relevant to the situation they're in without comparisons to things that no one cares about.

By the way, is there any truth to Diablo Cody writing an Evil Dead remake? I desperately hope not.

Spark Of Spirit · February 04, 2012, 12:40:01 AM

Quote from: Comeau on February 04, 2012, 12:26:37 AM
Man, it's funny you mention it, my buddy is on a huge Titus kick right now. I vaguely remember watching the show back in the day, alongside other perennial Fox favorites like Greg the Bunny and Cedric the Entertainer Presents, but I don't remember much about it. I should probably copy his shit off his hard drive so I can revisit it.

It's hilarious. I totally recommend it. It can get a bit dark, but never depressing, and it never forgets to be funny along the way.

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Juno & The Death Of The Teen Comedy