Juno - A review and a criticism.

Juno – A review and a criticism.

 

 

The recent release of Juno on DVD has many critics and fans bursting into an uproar. Some think the film is a revelation in it’s handling of teen pregnancy and romance but such high praise of the film is nothing but foolish. Juno is not a great movie. At best the film has moments of insight but often tries to cover too much and fails to completely shade the ground beneath it. If you think Juno is a wonderful film than you join Roger Ebert in the corner of bad taste. After all Roger Ebert thought Juno was one best films of the year and in case you did not know Ebert lost his mind years ago. Once, he was a great critic but now is nothing more than a Hollywood sap and kiss ass.

 

            The film is about a Juno MacGuff, a teenager that discovers she is pregnant with a child fathered by her best friend and longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker. Although she initially opts for an abortion, after a tense moment in the waiting room Juno decides that having the baby and giving it up for adoption is the best course of action.  She makes this decision without any real explanation.  With the help of her best friend, Juno discovers an advertisement in the newspaper for hopeful parents and finds a couple she feels will provide a suitable home for the child. Along with her father, Juno meets the couple, Mark and Vanessa at their home where they finalize the arrangements for a closed adoption.

Over the next few months, Juno forms a friendship with Mark, with whom she shares similar interests in rock music, horror flicks, and pop culture. Mark connects with Juno as well as rediscovers his past, a part of him buried in boxes in the basement of his middle/upper class lifestyle. Vanessa feels that his rock and roll past and ambition is nothing but a childish fantasy. Vanessa also has a great urge to become a parent, a sentiment not shared by her husband.

As her pregnancy progress, Juno struggles with the emotions she feels for Paulie, her new friendship with Mark and her pregnancy. Her relationship with Paulie is like most Hollywood teenage love stories in which the two are awkwardly distant, confused over the other’s intent and all the right things are generally left unsaid. There cannot be a doubt in the viewer’s mind that these two are made for one another.

Just before the baby is due, Juno visits Mark and learns of his intentions to leave Vanessa, make a life in rock music as well as start a relationship with Juno. When Vanessa comes home an argument ensues with Mark about how inappropriate it is for him to denounce his adult responsibilities and leave her before their adoption had been finalized. Juno witnesses their argument in part and becomes saddened by what seems like the destruction of the model family.  This leads to an endearing father and daughter moment in which the two discuss the longevity of love and how we should want to be loved, openly and without prejudice.

 

In the end, Juno expresses her love for Paulie. She has the baby and keeps her promise by giving it to Vanessa. Juno regains her youth and some might argue her innocence.

 

Roger Ebert says that the film is smart and funny. He praises first time screenwriter Diablo Cody for creating a story of depth with underlying themes that are rich and subtle. Ebert states that the Juno “has no wrong scenes and no extra scenes.” I am going to disagree with this heavily. I don’t dislike the film nor do I think it is a bad picture by any means. I think the film has clever dialogue but I don’t think it is a smart film. I think the film fails to achieve much of the depth it seeks and many of the underlying themes are subtle only because they are not fully developed. The film at 96 minutes running tries to encompass, teenage romance, sexuality, pregnancy, adoption, love and parenting all in one film. At the same time it attempts to tackle and/or avoid a pro-choice and pro-life debate. I think all of that is a bit much for a film that runs a shade over an hour and a half.  I also have a bit of a problem with a film that debates teen sexuality and unwanted pregnancy without ever discussing whether or not the sexually active teens used a condom. If the film is as smart as many claim it to be then how does it skirt a topic like condoms use and education when discussing teen sexuality and pregnancy? It is a not just a hot debate for teenagers but for parents, schoolteachers and even government officials. Teen pregnancy is not alien to Juno or her friends as they discuss how friends or classmates have gotten pregnant and kept or aborted the pregnancy, but the only time a condom is mentioned in the film is when Juno goes to an abortion clinic and is offered a condom and politely declines on the basis of its fruit flavoring not because of a personal decision.

 

There was an article in the New York Times not long ago about the films take on teen pregnancy and the differences that occur for men and women. Unfortunately I cannot recall the article or the writer but I do recall a compliment or complaint about the film. In the scene when Juno tells her parents about her pregnancy there is a moment when her father rather than being upset is simply disappointed in the action of his daughter. He thought that Juno is a person that, “just knows when to say when.” Apparently the disappointment in his daughter is in her lack of ability to control her body and what she does with it. As if she had made a choice to get pregnant. The writer of the article had commented on how this is a pressure, family and societal that a man will never understand. Even if men do know when to say when they do not face the fear of pregnancy, the emotional turmoil of abortion or the ordeal being pregnant on their own. After this moment, dad is as supportive as can be except for the occasional smart comment but with a film ripe with sarcasm any deviance from this formula might be awkward. For a brief moment Juno’s sexuality is under speculation but Paulie’s sexuality is enhanced by the circumstances. When Mac, Juno’s father discovers that Paulie is the father, he gives the teen props as Mac proclaims, “never knew the kid had it in him.” Paulie’s reputation is never in question as his role in the pregnancy is nothing but rumors hearsay. He is not really a part of the adoption and labor process and the reasons why could be debated because simply the story escapes explanation.  Another thing that makes this film incomplete is how underdeveloped the commentary is on how society treats pregnant teenagers. Juno takes on the pressure of being a pregnant teen but I am sure there must be more pressure on pregnant teens than the disapproving sonogram nurse and awkward stares from fellow classmates. 

 

At times I wish the film would cover one subject completely instead of covering six at unclear levels. The film is clever but not smart at least not smart enough to discuss the main themes of the film entirely. The dialogue is snappy but even that becomes a bit of a pattern. Instead of enjoying each punch line, half way through the film one should expect the punch line coming when the drama begins to dominate. What is enjoyable about the film is that the parents are not typical parents in teen comedies about sexuality. The parents are not angry, drunk or hypocrites, nor is it the parents that learn a valuable lesson but more importantly their children. The music is enjoyable and the performances are of high quality. Ellen Page shines, Michael Cera does teenage awkward better than anyone and even Jennifer Garner stretched herself beyond her mediocre talent. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney are solid as the parents. Even Jason Bateman at his most subdued actually displays some acting ability. There are plenty of things that I could say about this film but I feel that these two simple complaints knock this film from the golden mountain where it resides. I could complain about the inconsistency of Juno’s character or it’s lack of any real drama. There is no drama involving the pregnancy or the adoption and there is never really any doubt that Juno and Paulie won’t get together, thus equaling a lack of drama.

 

 A good friend of mine shared her opinion about Juno as she declared it a “cute” movie and agree completely. There is some nice romantic idealism and sincere family moments but I cannot see how this film is currently ranked in the top 250 films of all time on IMDB but attacking IMDB is another topic for another blog. Juno is not the revolutionary film about teenage pregnancy that some might think and believe me, there are people out there who think this.