NS February 11th, 2008
I mentioned that I was going to review Juno and after seeing it again last night and giving it more serious thought, I’m ready to write about it. When I first decided to write a review I thought it would be just be a lighthearted summary of what I thought of the plot, direction and characters, but after a second viewing I found myself looking beneath the surface at deeper issues it raises than might be seen at face value. I’ve heard a few criticisms of the film bandied about and thought about them as I watched. I scribbled down numerous musings but there are too many to discuss in depth so I’ve chosen just a few criticisms and will attempt to lay them out and make some sense of them here. If you’ve seen the film you may disagree with me and that’s absolutely fine, I encourage feedback in comments. I welcome differing viewpoints and an intelligent discussion. If you haven’t seen it, be warned that there may be some spoilers here. Again, there are spoilers in this review so go no further if you don’t want to know.
Point 1: Juno is too smart, articulate and witty for her age
Yes, it’s true — not a great deal of teenagers talk like Juno does with her large vocabulary, dry sense of humour, witty use of slang and deadpan delivery, but to say that “no teenager talks like that” is very untrue. I know this because I have met and been friends with girls like her when I was a teenager. There were a few things she said and did that I said or did in a similar way myself at that age. I think most people (at least ones with a good sense of humour and some smarts) have a little piece of that in them, no matter their age. Using a commonly-held stereotype of teens as either dumb and tongue-tied or inarticulate, whiny and immature to criticise and question the validity of a female character seems a bit patronising to me. Why can’t Juno say words like ‘cavalier’ and ‘procure’ and still be real? Have we become so disillusioned or out of touch with teenagers that when they speak like adults we automatically distrust or dismiss them? Do we subconsciously feel threatened if they don’t fit into the idea in our head of what they should be like?
Also, what does it say about how teen girls are portrayed in Hollywood? We’ve seen plenty of male teen characters demonstrate intelligence, candor and wit and the reality of that is rarely questioned. Have we just become conditioned to not notice anything but the tired cliches they trot out, film after film? The slutty cheerleader, the weirdo loner, the band geek, the eccentric artist, the rabid feminist, the sensitive poet, the athletic bull dyke and the bubbly, brainless student council president…we’re used to seeing them. But how often do we see someone like Juno — smart, articulate, independent, friendly, wisecracking, tomboyish yet feminine, pretty, musically talented and seemingly immune to the judgment of others? Does she actually exist or have we just been conditioned to believe she doesn’t?
Point 2: Juno’s seemingly nonchalant attitude towards the baby and her decision to put it up for adoption are unrealistic
There is a common assumption in modern society that any woman who makes a reproductive choice that results in anything less than a bouncing newborn to care for must be extremely pained about that choice. We hear, read and are told that women who have abortions think about it all the time and feel at least some modicum of guilt or regret for the rest of their lives; that women who choose not to have children or are not able to must be lacking something and have gaping big holes in their hearts, childless ghosts who wander around searching for love and fulfillment; that women who give children up for adoption must be consumed with feelings of loss for the child they never knew, crying in shame and stroking a faded and creased baby photo each year on its birthday.
When someone challenges one of these stereotypes, it shocks and sometimes appalls us, making it seem unbelievable. But just as no two snowflakes are the same, neither are human beings. When it comes to our bodies and babies, and the choices that exist between the two, there is as much a range of emotion and reaction as there are individual women. To say that Juno couldn’t possibly have been so okay with her decision makes me wonder if what some people wanted to see was some self-flagellation and hardcore soul-searching. Did we expect her to cry a little harder, beat herself up a little more, take more time weighing the gravity of the situation? Yes, we probably did because that is considered a normal response to an unwanted teen pregnancy. Her shockingly cavalier (to borrow a phrase from Juno herself) attitude and immediate certainty in her decision may not make for comfortable viewing for those who had, or imagine they would have, a harder time making those choices, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. If anything, it reveals a refreshingly strong faith in herself all too uncommon in teenage girls.
Point 3: The father, Paulie Bleeker, doesn’t seem awfully concerned or involved in the pregnancy, even though he is in love with Juno
Juno’s love interest and the father of her baby, Paulie Bleeker, is a quiet, sensitive guy who is seen in bright gold running shorts with matching wrist and head bands for much of the film. Paulie likes orange Tic Tacs, running, music and Juno. Above all, Juno. From what I gathered, they’d been friends for quite awhile but only recently did Juno begin thinking of him in ‘that way.’ And so it is that they end up having (unprotected) sex and Juno gets pregnant. When she tells him, Bleeker’s face freezes and he nervously asks what they should do. Juno tells him that she’s going to ‘nip it in the bud’ (she considers abortion at first) and asks if that’s cool with him. He says “Sure, whatever you think you should do.”
Now, to some, I suppose that could be taken as indifference but to me it just means he’s like most teen boys (and grown men) who feel unsure and awkward about what to say in situations such as these. Many men want to help the woman and take responsibility but aren’t sure what their role or even what their say in the matter is. That’s not to say that some aren’t absolute pigs about it, dumping all responsibility on the female’s shoulders and running away without so much as a backwards glance, but I think that most men are like Bleeker — deferring to the woman to make the ultimate decision since it’s her body and her life that would be most affected. In some respects I can see the conundrum men face when presented with the shocking news of an unplanned pregnancy. Women want men to ‘do the right thing’ (acknowledge their responsibility) and say they’ll be there every step of the way, no matter the outcome, but they also send the message that when it comes down to it, they’ll be the ones doing the deciding and the men better not try to interfere with that decision. Which is how it should be, quite rightly. It’s a woman’s life and body that will be turned upside down if she continues the pregnancy (or not). But I still felt sympathy for Bleeker and his impotence to do anything to really help her.
In short, I don’t think that Bleeker’s lack of involvement in the pregnancy itself means that he has absolved himself of any responsibility. If anything, Juno seems to want to try to protect him and his relative innocence (witnessed by his boyish racing car bed, typical young teen bedroom and penchant for sweets) because she knows that her maturity means she can shoulder more of the ‘heaviness’. Despite Bleeker making it clear that he’s still there for her emotionally and also madly in love with her, Juno appears to want or almost need to do this on her own. The fact that she didn’t have to go it alone but chose to doesn’t reflect badly on Bleeker, but instead just highlights Juno’s strength.
In the scene where she and Bleeker get into an argument, it’s obvious that her resentful remarks (“You’re not the one with the evidence under your sweater” and “What’s another ten pounds?” when he offers to carry her heavy bag) aren’t really directed towards him personally but are more a commentary on the infuriating unfairness of the burden her gender carries. Ask any woman who’s ever been heavily pregnant and she will tell you that at some point, she has resented and blamed her partner for not being able to participate in or understand the process, neither physically nor emotionally. Though a blessing to many women individually, pregnancy can also feel like a curse, even to those who wanted and planned it. And that’s not an easy thing for Bleeker, or many men for that matter, to understand. His silent empathy when he climbs into Juno’s hospital bed after she’s given birth and holds her while she cries is truly touching, and so simple. Again, the characters show a wisdom for their age that is refreshing to see, not because it doesn’t exist but because it does and should be celebrated.
Points 4, 5, 6 and 7: Mark and Vanessa (the adoptive parents) and how their relationship fits a certain mold of a very real modern stereotype; the relationship between Juno and her best friend Leah and how it challenges existing stereotypes; how Juno’s parents handle the pregnancy and how they differ from or are similar to other parents portrayed in this situation; and the relationship between Juno and Vanessa and Juno and Mark
I wanted to touch on these facets as well but I think this post is long enough as it is. I may share more of my thoughts on them in another post, if I have time and still have interest in it after tonight.
Overall, I enjoyed this film very much. It was funny, touching and different, with engaging dialogue and unique characters. The soundtrack is pretty good too, which is always a bonus. And the fact that is was written by Diablo Cody, a woman who uses her former stripper persona as her pen name (real name Brook Busey-Hunt) just makes it all the more interesting. I give the film 4/5 stars and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a movie that will make them laugh, make them think and hold their interest for an hour and a half.
