Honest to blog! A blog post about the movie Juno.

As a Christian, I'm always a bit worried about movies for teens and what message they're sending the youth of today. There certainly is a great deal I can (and do) object to in this movie. That being said, I think it was a wonderful movie, one I'm proud to own, and I think, in the bigger picture of things this movie may do some good to change the perception of things in the world today.



First of all. I'm very hesitant to just give a blanket recommendation to anyone with teens that they make this a family movie. Being someone who doesn't have kids I tend to stay clear of such things. However Kevin and I had the idea that a mature mid teen could probably handle the movie, though that should be considered knowing the maturity of the child. The movie is rated PG-13.

There is sex in this film and the viewer needs to know how to deal with the images. All you see are naked feet and legs, and his chest for a couple seconds, in some ways less than a lot of other things trying to depict such an image. Pretty much anyone after puberty wouldn't have a hard time figuring out what's going on. To give a comparison, I believe it to be much tamer than the sex scene in Titanic, but with a bit of the same vagueness of scene.

I was curious about this movie because of how well it's selling and by the descriptions I've read about it. The advertisements I've heard have witty lines, and it, in general looked appealing to me. Juno knows she screwed up, she knows she can't be a teen mom, and it's a quirky adventure following Juno's path to find what is right for her and her unborn baby.

Now, to anyone new to reading my blog, my husband and I have been married 8 years and still don't have kids. It's something that has been heartbreaking for us. We are currently preparing to try to conceive, but because I have a known reason for infertility (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome) as well as dealing with arthritis in my back, while we're planning to try soon, the odds are stacked against us. So adoption is something we think about often. The only thing really blocking us being finances. But us and our decision not to adopt right now is a different blog post altogether. I mention all this because knowing my own infertility, and growing my faith as a Christian, I've become firmly rooted in my beliefs that life starts at conception and as a result abortion is morally wrong. But I'm not writing this review to go into that all that much right now either.

The movie does a poor job, I feel dealing with the issue of differing beliefs regarding abortion. But for her reasons, Juno chooses life for her child, and as one character in the film congratulates her for saving her babies life, I still had a sour taste in my mouth from seeing Juno even go into the abortion clinic. I don't want to go into too many details here since I don't want to be a plot spoiler. But knowing some of the people who read my blog, I thought it important to mention that such a place is in the film, though fortunately the technical aspects only go as far as the front counter and waiting-room. On the other hand, I felt like that scene showed the scumminess and sadness of the situations that lead someone into a place like that. It makes Juno question her already huge dilemma more.

Juno's journey shows a wonderful support system for her and her choice, in regards to her friends and family, It also shows a lot of the realities a child in her situation would face dealing with the outside world and there perceptions of her visually obvious situation. She still deals with nasty looks from people in the community, but she doesn't let this sway her, she stays strong, knowing her choice is right.



Juno (and this is on the back cover, so unless you avoid the back cover I shouldn't be giving away more.) makes the decision to find a couple to adopt her baby. There is a bit of worldliness in her response, she doesn't like the ads for the "wholesome" families, and she states flippantly that she wouldn't be opposed to a same sex couple having her baby, she just wants to find a couple she'd like to be the parents. While those things didn't completely settle well with me, she is staying firm in her choice to let the unborn baby live and responsibly find it a home. Something that I feel is very strong of her and while she may be a fictional character, I rejoiced for her decision (knowing real teens in their own situations will be seeing this movie and it will have some pull on them. Hopefully to also do the right thing.)

I love the sub-plot of Juno's relationship with the babies father, and how they mature together with the realities of the situation they got themselves into. Theirs is a sweet and awkward high school love story, put on a different spin as they work through continuing getting to know each other, but with a less than normal situation among them. Just like any sweet romance you feel bad for them when they hit rough parts in who they are, and cheer for them when they find and grow their love for each-other.




I think the rolls of the adoptive couple must have been a hard roll to do. I know for my husband and I, we feel, unless you are a couple only dreaming of a child it's hard to know how to accurately portray that longing desire. But I think Jennifer Garner did a phenomenal job relaying the emotions of a heartbroken woman just wanting to be a mom, without her seeming like a flat character who is just a baby-wanting basket-case. It showed her being ready to be a mom, and the nesting she was drawn towards even though her soon to be child wasn't growing inside of her.



Considering how secular the film is, I think the language was moderately mild. It certainly had words in it I wouldn't say myself, but it's hard to avoid that in most movies these days. The extras on the DVD are at times laced with tons of f-bombs. The film also has various version of using the Lord's name in vain, so a warning to some there. I still think, in the end, looking at the plot as a whole, it's a movie that will make people think: about the sanctity of life, when it starts, and the consequences of teen pregnancy - but also the hidden blessings that result from Juno's choices regarding her situation. I think it was a fresh view of a story that can seem very typical and overdone, but this was done in an edgy, hip way that hopefully will, and seems to appeal to the people who need to think about these things the most.

On a scale of 5 stars in general I give it a 5. It was incredibly sweet and enjoyable story, while still having realness and edge. I think I cried about 3 times for various scenes in the film. And I'm not normally a blubbery viewer. The story touched me because of it's uniqueness and strength.

As far as being family friendly a couple stars drop off... it's not for young kids, but teens could learn something from the reality of Juno's story. It's not completely moral, but I feel Juno makes the best of the situation she got herself into.

The music was loads of fun and I hope to eventually get the soundtrack as well. It's different songs, not like the typical pop trash in a lot of popular movies.

I think Ellen Page did a great job! She's a bright and talented actress who really brought Juno to life. I look forward to seeing her in many rolls to come. She made Juno into a quirky and fun character who made me want to adopt her baby.



Thank you for reading my review. If you've seen the movie too please let me know what you think. And if my review leads you to consider viewing it please let me know that too. I'd also love to know what you think after viewing it.