i saw juno this week with kristen in san francisco. damn, but i loved that movie. it’s so sweet, endearing, and without any real malice. the characters were all an idealized version of how i’d like to think people are and it had 4 of my favorite TV actors in it–jason bateman, allison janney, jennifer garner, and michael cera.
short plot outline: juno gets pregnant by paul and the loring’s want to adopt the kid.
that was a goddamn short outline. anyway, then life ensues, you know, and there’s relationship problems with juno/paul and the lorings.
other than the really odd writing for teenagers and my cynical nature there’s nothing wrong with this movie. it’s delightful, quixotic, and reassuring.
i’ve kind of got to question though if it presents a very good role model of teenage pregnancy. nothing bad happens to juno. her parents are supportive, she finds adoptive parents for the kid, we see no serious evidence of her peers or teachers being mean to her for being knocked up, she goes back to her life as soon as she gives the kid up with a bare minimum of grief or verbalization of loss. how honest can this be? i liked it because it was optimistic and sweet, but i don’t know if i would want teenagers to see it without a lecture on safe sex.
also, when jason bateman’s character decides to move out he states that he thought juno would be happy. he doesn’t want to be a father after all and wants a divorce from jennifer garner’s baby-crazy character. but what the hell did he think would happen if juno was happy with his new apartment? what did he think she was going to do with the baby if she couldn’t give it to him and his wife? the possibility could exist that juno would keep the baby then and he would be stuck with a 16 year old live-in girlfriend and a baby. ridiculous. jason bateman was my least favorite character, which is sad since i love him so.
even though i have post movie gripes, i still really loved this movie and recommend it to everyone.