Juno MacGuff, in former stripper Diablo Cody's cinematic debut, "Juno," gives a unique perspective to teen pregnancy. Ellen Page portrays a fast-talking curious teenager, who, through what seemed like innocent experimentation, was left with an unwanted pregnancy and an awkward but adoring adolescent father, played by Michael Cera.
Juno shatters the Lifetime movie stereotype that teenager pregnancy is always a product of deeply troubled adolescent girls, or dumb, slutty ones. It takes the stance that teenagers do stupid things sometimes without devious intentions or a sex addiction that lands them in situations they're not prepared to cope with yet.
She's not so beautiful that the boys couldn't help themselves, she doesn't have Daddy issues, and she's not so in love that sex was the only way to express her feelings. She's just curious about sex. Who wasn't at 16?
Juno handles her pregnancy with grace and an unbreakable (though flippant) attitude. She takes responsibility by giving the baby up for adoption, and shows tremendous courage when she gives birth and must ignore the biological instinct to keep her baby.
The movie ends with a not pregnant Juno returning to her youth, riding her bike to her baby-daddy's house and fooling around on the guitar without a care in the world. Unlikely conclusion, but endearing nonetheless.
No comments:
Post a Comment