What's The Difference Between Juno and Superbad?

I'm not here to go after a supremely cute and well done movie in Juno. I'm simply here to point out a bit of hypocrisy from the award givers and my critical brethren. My case? Well, after finally getting around to seeing Juno last night I initially had a few laughs, but then something bigger hit me. Juno -- for all its good music and a great performance by Ellen Page -- is essentially a collection of one-liners built around a youthful premise. Hey, wait a second. What movie does that sound like to you? If Superbad and Juno are different it can be measured in degrees, not by genre.

Let's look at the facts of the matter here. Both films feature Michael Cera acting awkward and uncomfortable in his own skin (he has singing scenes in both too). They both feature a quest of some sort, though where Superbad's ultimate goal is mending friendship, Juno's is surviving a teen pregnancy. Yes, teen pregnancy is a topic far more worthy of a dramatic award seeking film, but Juno doesn't deal with the issue in any meaningful manner. Sarcasm is the method both films use to mine copious amounts of laughs. Finally, at times, both of the movies offer up Dawson's Creek-style dialogue levels that only the most self-aware and verbose teens would even be capable of. Which is fine, as they are both movies you want to watch, both fun and humorous with a slight dash of poignant. But what I don't get is this: while Juno racks up Golden Globe nominations left and right, all in preparation for some serious Oscar love, Superbad is done for the season, put back in the "teen comedy" category. Why?

My thought is that it has much to do with sensibilities. The major difference between Superbad and Juno is that one is "told" (using that term very loosely) from a male perspective while the other is offered up from a more feminine place. I'm not saying one is better, mind you, I'm just pointing out that this is probably the reason that one of the films is taken seriously while the other is dismissed. In my world both of these films would be rewarded, as I'd say it is more difficult to pull off a good comedy than a good drama. The number of solid comedies this year can be counted on one hand, whereas you'd probably get to double digits before you ran out of solid "serious" movies to watch. But it seems like, in this case, Juno's femininity has gained it access to the hallowed halls of movies to be considered, fawned over, and seriously discussed.

One of these movies has female characters that are complete surface level sketches. Jules, Becca and the Superbad gal gang act as mere props against the backdrop that is McLovin, Jonah Hill, and Michael Cera. The other has largely surface level male characters. Besides Juno's love for him, what do we know of Cera in the movie? He likes Tic Tacs and he's a high school runner; but he's never given a scene sans Juno, now is he? He essentially exists to give her something to pine after, a topic worthy of even more wisecracks. Likewise, Jason Bateman is the sketch of a male character you draw if you know two facts about men: 1.) They occasionally get married and 2.) They aren't very good at staying married. As I said before, I'm not mad at Juno, I'm just disappointed for my friend Superbad.

Okay, okay, I'll pipe down now and thank my lucky stars that Page might finally get some love off of this (we named her one of the six best under 25). I'll stow my bitterness over the arbitrary rules of award nominations and take heart in the fact that a writer of note (Ms. Diablo Cody) might get some bigger opportunities due to this little teen pregnancy tale that could. I'll check my cold logic at the door and appreciate both films for what they are -- different sides of the same quality coin.

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