2008 February | Viewpoint

Juno, The Movie

Posted by Paulyn on Sunday , February 24 , 2008 at 5:18 pm

I just saw the movie Juno last night. It was a good movie, but in my opinion, I wouldn’t let my 15 year old daughter see this movie. The culture of the teenagers in that film isn’t at all similar to the culture that our own youth are raised in this country. Or maybe I am mistaken, that should be, in my family.

First of all the main character, Juno, only 16, and her friend, Leah, already seemed to be comfortable in engaging in sexual activities at that age. It was like a usual thing for them. Being pregnant in their school almost seemed like an “everyday thing” around the campus. I do think it was good for her to decide on pursuing her studies despite her pregnant condition, but all that just isn’t a common thing that occurs in the day-to-day life of our children here.

There was one particular characteristic in Juno, though, that really struck me most. It was her sense of responsibility for the mistake that she had already committed. Even before bringing up the issue to her parents, she had already made plans and decisions on how to go about correcting the mistake that had been done. I’m not saying that she was making absolute correct decisions at that moment, but children her age, well, generally, would just panic and simply not have any idea as to what to do in that situation. For Juno it was either an abortion, or adoption. And she decided on the latter. In my time, I just bawled and waited for my parents to make the decision for me. And I was 23 at that time…. and, well, look what happened. I guess that’s what made Juno a strikingly different child in my point of view.

The father and the stepmother, and the friend Leah… they are definitely the best. They respected and supported Juno for the decision she made. They would be the kind of parents and friends anyone would ever want to have. On the day Juno met the adoptive parents she chose for her baby, Mark and Vanessa, she was rather odd and too sarcastic. I should say too straightforward. But her father “let her do the talking”. I considered that as a clear sign of respect for his daughter’s opinions and decisions. And the stepmom… she was simply amazing! I just loved the part where she snapped at the ultrasound technician who was voicing out her unsolicited opinion about the situation. I thought that woman was too fresh and had no business making comments at all.

When Juno insisted on continuously visiting the home of Mark and Vanessa, I was afraid she was probably falling in love with Mark simply because they shared the same interests, and were getting along too well without Vanessa around. I thought it was all going to become complicated when they started dancing! But I was wrong! Juno didn’t want anything but for Mark and Vanessa to be a couple who were completely in love with each other and ready to have her baby.

It turned out that she was in love with Paulie. Funny, but I never felt anything at all between them. . The boy was as naïve as an 8-year-old kid. They were just like a couple of kids who were like real good friends. Paulie didn’t seem like the kind of guy a girl would fall in love with. Not just yet. He really seemed too naïve to even have any idea what on earth love is all about.

As a whole, I did like the movie…. I don’t know about the rest, but I still wouldn’t let my kid watch it… at least probably not until she turns eighteen….what do you think?

just my point of view…