Jason Reitman’s Juno tells the story of a relatable teenager who unexpectedly gets pregnant and has to figure out what she’s going to do with the baby. From Elliot Page’s poignant performance in the title role to Diablo Cody’s Oscar-winning semi-autobiographical screenplay bringing a real authenticity to the plot, it’s a truly beautiful movie.
Juno is a rare comedy-drama with strong elements of both genres. The movie has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and it also has plenty of heartfelt — or downright heartbreaking — dramatic scenes. Here are the five funniest and five most emotional scenes from Juno.
Laugh Out Loud: “Thundercats Are Go!”
Juno announces that she’s going into labor in the most Juno way possible — with an obscure pop culture reference to a cartoon from the ‘80s.
When her water breaks at the turn of the third act (when it had to happen, due to the nature of storytelling), she cries out for her dad and says, “Either I just peed my pants, or...” Mac tensely asks, “Or!?,” and she hilariously adds, “Thundercats are go!”
Hit Us In The Feels: The Delivery
In a movie about a teenage pregnancy, it was only natural that the delivery would be the climax of the story. The movie handles it powerfully, showing both the physical pain and emotional experience of childbirth.
The fact that Juno gives the baby away as soon as she’s given birth to it adds a layer of gravitas to the delivery. Juno’s stepmother, Bren, is by her side every step of the way. When Juno wants the spinal tap, Bren yells at the hospital staff: “Can we give my kid the damn spinal tap already!?”
Laugh Out Loud: “They Make His Junk Smell Like Pie.”
When Juno goes to Women Now, the receptionist offers her a free boysenberry-scented condom. However, Juno says she’s “off sex” for a while. The receptionist tells her, “My boyfriend uses them every time we have intercourse. They make his junk smell like pie.” Juno doesn’t even respond. She’s speechless. She just awkwardly slinks off.
Later, when Juno tells Leah about the encounter, she complains that the receptionist was “babbling away about her friggin’ boyfriend’s pie balls.”
Hit Us In The Feels: Mark And Vanessa Break Up
One of the most shocking plot turns of the movie is the breakup of Mark and Vanessa. Just when Juno thinks she’s found the perfect couple to raise her child, they go and split up.
Mark wasn’t ready to become a father, and on top of that, he was falling in love with Juno. So, his marriage with Vanessa dissolved before the baby arrived. It was probably for the best: Vanessa still got to be a mom, and Mark was probably happier single.
Laugh Out Loud: “This Is One Doodle That Can’t Be Undid, Home Skillet.”
Three years before they’d play a pair of masked vigilantes in James Gunn’s Super, Rainn Wilson appeared alongside Elliot Page in Juno. Their interactions in the movie are hilarious, as Wilson plays convenience store clerk Rollo, who knows Juno as a regular customer.
When Juno first uses a pregnancy test in Rollo’s store and is horrified by the “unholy” pink plus sign, she shakes the pregnancy test like a thermometer. Rollo quips, “That ain’t no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can’t be undid, home skillet.”
Hit Us In The Feels: “Vanessa: If You’re Still In, I’m Still In. – Juno.”
Mark and Vanessa’s breakup came as a curveball to Juno, who was expecting them to raise her baby. Realizing that Vanessa would still make a great mother on her own — especially after seeing her acting so natural around children at the mall — Juno left her a heartfelt note: “Vanessa: If you’re still in, I’m still in. – Juno.”
Mark was not a great guy, and wouldn’t have made a good father for Juno and Paulie’s baby. But Vanessa will definitely make a great mom, and Juno could see that.
Laugh Out Loud: Juno Throws Up Blue Slurpee
Near the beginning of Juno, the title character buys a big blue Slurpee from the convenience store, knocks it back on her way home, and then promptly throws it up.
There’s a fun callback to this scene in The Office episode “New Guys.” When Dwight finds out that he’s not the father of Angela’s baby, he vomited up blue Slurpee on her as a nod to Juno. Dwight is played by Rainn Wilson, who played Rollo, the convenience store clerk who sold Juno the Slurpee that she threw up.
Hit Us In The Feels: Juno’s Heart-To-Heart With Her Dad
J.K. Simmons and Elliot Page each give standout career-highlight performances in Juno, but they also have terrific chemistry as a father and daughter with a palpable bond.
This is most prevalent in the scene in which they have a heart-to-heart that makes Juno realize she’s in love with Paulie. After spending the movie as an endearing crank, Mac finally opens up when his daughter needs emotional support.
Laugh Out Loud: Juno And Leah Look For Adoption Adds In The Pennysaver
Juno’s best friend Leah is really supportive throughout this movie. They have a rather inspiring friendship. When Juno starts looking for adoptive parents to give her baby to in the Pennysaver, Leah joins her and they make wisecracks to make the whole experience more fun.
For example, Leah comes up with a jokey adoption ad headline: “Desperately Seeking Spawn.”
Hit Us In The Feels: Paulie Lies With Juno After She Gives Birth
Juno didn’t tell Paulie when she went into labor because of his track meet. But when he sees that she’s not in the bleachers and figures that she must’ve been giving birth, he rushes down to the hospital to see her.
She’s lying in bed, having just given birth and relinquished the baby to Vanessa. Paulie simply lies with her in a sweet, poignant moment. Love is tough when you’re in high school, but in this moment, these two kids finally accept that they love each other.