One of the more true lines in Juno is when she describes how even the jocks at school want a mousey, horn-rimmed glasses-wearing hipster girl, even though they spend so much time making fun of them.

I have to say, I hope that she’s right. This is a fun little indie movie that doesn’t deserve to get swept under the rug like all too many fun little indie films so often do. This slice of horn-rimmed, quick-witted life could do us all some good.

The antithesis of your typical holiday movie, Juno tugs at your heartstrings in an altogether different (and refreshing) way than, say, Santa Clause 3. Instead of piling on the schmaltz, it cuts through the bullshit, letting us see each character without the gauzey, sugar-coated filter of your usual Hollywood script. For all of it’s bombastic snarkiness, it lets it’s heart show through at all the right moments.

It’s full of characters that you can relate with, or maybe even aspire to be. From Jason Bateman’s Mark, a failed alt-rock musician turned commerical composer/sellout to Juno’s step-mother, Bren, the prototypical Minnesota mom, played letter-perfect by the always great Allison Janney. Each person that appears on the screen grabs it at one time or another, taking advantage of any chance to spar with Juno in their own way without overshadowing her.

Juno is a character that, at times, does come across as someone’s idealized vision of who they wish they were in high school. She embodies every smart-assed, willful teenager stereotype, yet seems to possess something different, something special. Ellen Page takes what could’ve been a cookie-cutter character and imbues it with vitality, realism and heart. For every quick remark, she shows that there are real emotions behind the persona her character creates for herself, letting us see through the very same protective wall that many of us put up to get through our own high school years unscathed.

The actual story of Juno is well-treaded territory. The unabashedly magnetic lead, flanked by believably off-beat parents, supportive girlfriend, awkward love interest, etc etc etc. But the wonderful ensemble cast, which also includes the wonderful J.K. Simmons as Juno’s father, Mac, really makes this movie work. They seem comfortable with each other and their situations, even when the situation is anything but comfortable. Director Jason Reitman does the right thing and stays out of the way of the story, letting Diablo Cody’s script and a very talented cast work their magic.

So, if you’re looking for an offbeat, slightly predictable, but very well-acted movie to escape in this holiday season, check out Juno.