Juno
Movie Review

by Deb Shults, MS, LMHP, LADC
Therapist
Lakeside Psychiatric Associates



Recently, I went to see the movie Juno and enjoyed it a lot. It is a good movie for older teenagers and parents to see together, as it could start some lively discussions about premarital sex, birth control, high school and parenting styles. It touches on the alienation that adolescents feel when parents divorce and remarry.

Juno is the tale of a young lady who chooses to seduce a peer who is an outsider like herself. She becomes pregnant on this initial sexual encounter. She decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption and begins her search for the perfect couple. She does not want an open adoption and absolutely wants only what is best for her baby.

 As the story unfolds and her pregnancy becomes more noticeable, we see how unchanged the young man's life is as he goes about classes, extracurricular activities, and friends. For example, his mother doesn't know he has fathered a child, yet engages in gossip about Juno and her pregnancy.

Watching Juno's father and stepmother handle her pregnancy is unique, to say the least. The couple that Juno picks lives a very affluent lifestyle, yet there is an emptiness that is palpable in the film.

Overall, I highly recommend this movie for high school age teens and adults. It is humorous, engaging, fun and has a great soundtrack. It speaks to the blessing of remaining unique during a time of pressure to conform. Ellen Page was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, and you will recognize several of the characters from TV series Law & Order and The West Wing. You'll enjoy this flick.