Jason Reitman

The son of directors Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Ghostbusters) and Geneviève Robert (Casual Sex?), Jason Reitman initially essayed bit and supporting on-camera roles, typically in his father's projects -- such films as Ghostbusters (1984), Twins (1988), Kindergarten Cop (1990), and Dave (1993). Reitman took his directorial bow in 2005 with the acerbic satire Thank You for Smoking (2005), starring Aaron Eckhart -- a freewheeling adaptation of Christopher Buckley's tome about a crafty spin doctor for the tobacco lobby. That outing netted rave reviews from critics across the country. Reitman followed it up with Juno (2007), a comedy drama about an teenage girl (Ellen Page) forced to grow up very quickly when she must contend with an unplanned pregnancy after a tryst with a classmate (Michael Cera). The film opened to glowing reviews, and garnered a number of year-end accolades including a Best Director nomination by the Academy for Reitman's work on the project. At about the same time, Reitman teamed up with actor and scenarist Rainn Wilson (The Office) for Bonzai Shadowhands (2008) -- a seriocomedy about a ninja (Wilson) sinking ever rapidly into a mediocre life.

~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide