Juno

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page, Hard Candy), a bright teenager with a fine line in sardonic wit, has the misfortune to find herself pregnant after the first and only time she has sex with her classmate Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera, Arrested Development). With the aid of her best friend and the small ads she finds her unborn child a set of 'perfect' parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), longing to adopt. However, things aren't quite as straightforward as they seem, so it's fortunate that Juno has the support of her dad and stepmom (J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney), as she faces some tough decisions, flirting with adulthood and figuring out where she fits.

The second feature by Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking), from a wonderful script by 'Pussy Ranch' blogger Diablo Cody (Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper). This pitch-perfect film is without doubt one of the most enjoyable of the year.

Juno, with a fondness for old school punk and horror movie gore, is the ultimate cool-if-slightly-weird-chick role model, and the geeky but truly decent Bleeker is just adorable. The adoptive parents-to-be and Juno's friends and family are all brilliant character studies in themselves, gradually revealed as the story unfolds. Although the film is hilarious, it never feels forced - like Juno herself, it doesn't need to try too hard - and beneath its whip smart surface (complete with gorgeous lo-fi tunes) lies a heartwarming depth.

Sandra Hebron