Juno
theophilus April 26th, 2008
I usually don’t recommend movies because there are so few to recommend. But my wife and I watched Juno last night and I was pleasantly surprised. It may be one of the best pro-life and pro-family movies to come out of Hollywood in a long time.
The lead character comes off very well as she struggles with the “choices” presented to her as a pregnant teen. There is a scene in an abortion clinic that is probably more real and less heroic than what the abortion industry would like us to think. There is a clumsy pro-life “protester” out front of the clinic who nevertheless delivers a powerful message. The parents (lead character’s father and stepmother), while flawed, nevertheless come off acting like we would hope parents would act in such a situation. Even the boyfriend is a sympathetic character as he tries to figure out his role in this whole thing.
Juno does decide on adoption. If I have a beef with the film, it’s the characterization of the couple who want to adopt the baby. The husband especially comes off as a jerk. But the wife is redeemed at the end. The adoption situation portrayed isn’t ideal but it does show the adoption having a happy ending.
As an adoptee who is active in advocating on behalf of adoption, I’m glad to see a decent movie involving adoption. I’m also glad to see that many of the consequences of teenage sex are realistically portrayed. The movie isn’t perfect but it’s good enough, especially considering some of the garbage that gets on our movie screens nowadays.
I also want to know how much Sunny Delight had to pay to get its product placement at the beginning of the movie. See the movie and you’ll have the same question.
OK, I’m done as a movie critic.
