The Last July Movie Review: Juno

This one's a bit special, innit? Well, it sure is one of those movies they make you think about life a bit. It's not necessarily bad, of course, but just has different point of view. And I like movies with different points of view, gripping plot and a good moral lesson. Not all movies possess that anymore.
It is yet another teen movie (or at least about teens) and showing a lot how things go in high-school for Juno and all that, but I gotta say it surprised me in a very good way. I surely didn't expect such plot twist, good acting and unravelling of events. One of the many good qualities that this movie possess is definitely how things turn out in the end. It takes you by surprise on every step. It has a fun beginning and surely an ending that will bring tears in your eyes.

Juno MacGuff is a seemingly extraordinary teen with a slightly inconvenient problem ahead of her. The movie begins with Juno taking the third pregnancy test so far and like they say, third time is the charm. Well, not exactly for Juno. The test turned positive and her life is now officially ruined. Of course, she seeks help at teacher-fetishist friend Leah, who helps her deal with every trouble that bugs soon-to-be-mommy Juno. The thing is that Juno hasn't exactly told her parents about the stork news yet. She decides to take the most obvious a pregnant teen can make: abortion. Of course, Paulie Bleeker agrees with whatever is cool with Juno so that the decision is mutual. Juno courageously approaches the abortion clinic, but once she arrives something bothers her. Not the Su-Chin's protest signs outside the clinic, but how abortion is really not good choice for Juno and her baby. She thinks through it a bit further, although she kind of rushed out of that clinic pretty much determined to keep this baby.
In my opinion, that is a really daring move the creators of this movie made, because it is not common that such young girls keep the baby (except in MTV show 16 And Pregnant). They rather go for abortion, and I really respect that sort of scenario. Well, if you think about it, there really wouldn't be a story if she took the abortion.

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She somehow had to confront her parents, of course. They took it pretty well I think, but what happened afterwards Juno ran into her bedroom out of disgrace was purely epic. I mean I actually laughed when Juno's stepmother said that she was expecting Juno to say she's a drug addict or something and that she would even take that scenario less seriously than this one. I mean, that probably doesn't happen in real life, but let's face it - it was funny. Anyway, since Juno is clearly having a baby and since she's only sixteen, therefore too young to actually take care of that baby, the always brave Juno proposed an ideal deal. She and Leah took a look into the adverts in the papers where people put the descriptions of their family open for adoption. I think that was pretty sweet of Juno to "hand in" a baby to a good family and not just put it in some hospital where she would never meet the potential new parents. It's a big step, but I think Juno as her family can take it.

So the bump was getting bigger and so did the stares at school. Thankfully, Juno was one of those people who didn't give the slightest shit about what people thought about her and what they might say about her. All she cared about was living her life and, well, bringing that baby safe to life. She held up pretty well, I think. Maybe in some parts she acted a bit immature, but hey she's sixteen and is allowed to be reckless at that age. Too bad she was too reckless to forget either condom or contraception for their (Juno's and Paulie's) first time. But I love how she handled the situation. She might have acted a bit silly at moments, but I think finding a family herself and actually willing to give them her baby was very mature and thoughtful. I know that not all teenagers who are parents-to-be act like this. Maybe in this movie they showed like a "perfect" example of a teen handling this situation, but from how I've seen it Juno's life was far from perfect. I mean, she got pregnant for starters. Then she got the stares from her "friends" at school (except Paulie and Leah), no matter if she didn't take it to her heart. Also maybe her relationship at home wasn't as perfect as it could be. We never know what's happening behind closed four walls, do we?

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All along Juno kept her indispensable sense of humor and wittiness, way of handling compromising situations and optimism. It may have not seemed like it at times, but I think she's one of those people who simply refuses to give up when life gets tough. Who refuses to look at the dark side when there are options of getting out of it alive.Who says "bloody hell" or "fucking shit" a few times but then gets real with the situation because, like it or not, it's going to happen. And Juno was well aware of that. She was a great case of how to successfully manage such inconvenient situation when you have the right friends by your side and a supporting family. I wish all teens who find themselves in such situation would have what Juno had. Not to have to deal with the baby thing, but if it would come it it I wish they would have such good support by their side. I do acknowledge that Juno wasn't a perfect daughter either. Not because of the pregnancy thing. But because hey, who is perfect when they are a teenager and only want to get out of this dull town and start living actual life? That's why this movie brought me to tears later. Because it showed, how no matter what background lies behind the story of that poor little girl who got pregnant, there were people who stood beside her all through the end, no matter what. And this is called real family.

I think the moment that truly got me to tears was that last one when Juno's water broke. How it was all so cute and they were all so organized yet scared, but happy to do this. And when Juno went into labor. It looked really painful and surely dragged all my thoughts of motherhood away for a while, but it was so beautiful. I cried the whole time with Juno through labor and when the movie showed the new mommy and when Juno laid in bed with Paulie by her side. It was so emotional and you really wouldn't expect that of this movie at first. It showed how human is capable of so much love towards each other. I think it is truly one of the most amazing movies about teens and real problems they (we) are facing and not if some hot footballer will like us. It is about time we realize life's much more to it than just that. And Juno made me realize it.