'Juno's pregnant pause

Director Jason Reitman made me a believer with just one movie, his stunning debut "Thank You for Smoking." No neophyte should nail a cultural satire as easily as he did the first time behind the camera.

Reitman's follow-up has him working with first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody.

These two are fast learners.

"Juno" stars Ellen Page as a wise beyond her years teen who gets pregnant after some casual sex with her quasi-boyfriend (Michael Cera, having one helluva year). Juno decides to give her child to a local couple (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman) who can't have one of their own. What follows is too clever for its own good at times, but it's unusually humorous and touching in the right ratio. (Photo: A very pregnant Juno (Ellen Page) is surrounded by loved ones as delivery time nears)