Saturday, April 19, 2008

Juno...



Some of you may have noticed that this is a new post with the same name as one that appeared last night. The last one just didn't feel right. I want to start periodically reviewing movies that I have seen, but the review I typed up last night just felt soulless. Like I was writing it because I had to, not because I wanted to.

So I'm trying again. And if you didn't get to read the last try, too bad. It's deleted and not coming back. Ever.

I got so caught up in trying to review different parts of the film and what made it so great that I forgot that I really enjoyed the film. It felt good to watch Juno. It's a comedy that makes you feel good, slightly uncomfortable at times, and makes you gut laugh quite frequently. I cried at this movie.

Basic story? Juno, sixteen, becomes pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption to a well-off couple she finds in the Penny Shopper. That's the basic story. One sentence. In this movie, however, the joy is definitely in the journey.

I loved the way that the characters expressed themselves in this film. What they say is so blunt, but you have to actually be intelligent enough to understand that it is blunt. It's great, I'm telling you. A couple examples: Mark Loring(the adoptive father): "Why does everyone think yellow is gender neutral? I never knew a guy with a yellow room." Bren MacGuff(Juno's step-mom): "
Well, honey, doctors are sadists who like to play God and watch lesser people scream...". Mac MacGuff(Juno's dad): "Thanks for having me and my irresponsible child over your house." Vanessa Loring(Adoptive Mom) :"Your parents are probably wondering where you are." Juno: "Nah... I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?"

I actually want to watch this movie with my mom. I don't think Dad would go for it all that well. Here's a couple things to keep in mind about Juno. It's rated PG-13, and I feel it's the first movie to truly fit what I feel a PG-13 movie. It's about teenage pregnancy, so it shouldn't be seen by anyone who is not a teen. There needs to be at least a little emotional maturity, you know? There's a little swearing, but it's not too bad. The language didn't stick out, it wasn't really offensive, at least to me. The movie includes the scene where Juno gets pregnant. However, it's more hinted at, and doesn't titillate, like some movies that hint at sex. You see Juno's calves and feet, and the father's lower legs and his chest. That's it. And they don't dwell on it. That's just the start of the journey. I really think most everybody will enjoy this movie.

It's a very real fantasy.

How's that for a description? So watch it already!

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