Offbeat comedy set in suburban North America, about pregnant teen played by Ellen Page of Hard Candy fame, co-stars Jason Bateman and Michael Cera, father and son team from Arrested Development; borrows a little from High Fidelity and Little Miss Sunshine, but fortunately pulls it off.

 

Having settled into my chair for the first fifteen minutes, I began to think I shouldn’t be here! Showing early tendencies of a teen H&M fashion inspired Emo flick with strong feminist over currents (script writer Diablo Cody was formerly stripper) I felt a little uncomfortable and was anticipating a painful experience.

 

But as the film rolled on I was pleasantly surprised as we are saved by her cool dad (JK Simmons) and the even cooler Mark (Bateman). And indeed from caustic beginnings it unfolds into a temperate yarn without a hint of feminism or teen angst.

 

So stick with it and you will be rewarded. It’s got so many lines, there should be one for everyone in the audience. The soundtrack is peppered with lots of catchy singer songwriter tunes, creating a warm atmosphere while taking the edge of any deeper issues around teen pregnancy and abortion. At 96 minutes its just right length.

 

If any criticism the dialogue seems a little sophisticated for a pretty teen girl undermining the believability of the character; its as if the script was intercepted en route to Jack Black, but once you get over this oddity you can move on to enjoying the movie.

 

Look out for a cameo from US Office star Rainn Wilson in the opening scenes.