Juno

Juno is a tale spun by newcomer Diablo Cody, and directed by Thank You For Smoking's Jason Reitman. The story revolves around Juno (Ellen Page) who went and got herself knocked up by Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cena). What should she do now? Juno is only 16 mind you, just a junior in high school. Her first instinct is to hit the local abortion clinic, but as she goes through the process she finds herself repulsed by it for no particular reason. Thus, Juno decides instead to give the baby away to a loving family. So she goes to meet one perspective couple, the Lorings (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). She decides this family is a good fit and proceeds to let the baby cook in the oven for a few more months, pop the thing out, and get on with her high school years. The dialogue is quick and witty, the plot moves along swimmingly, and we enter into the world of a high-school girl.

At one point in the film Juno's stepmother says that there could be a precious blessing from Jesus in this garbage dump of a situation. This echoes many Biblical ideas, such as the story of Joseph ("What man has meant for evil God intended for good") and Paul's words in Romans ("In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose"). A teenage pregnancy is not an ideal situation, and it adds a whole lot of extra stress to many lives. It is far from ideal, but God can take crappy things and turn them into good. We must remember this when we are going through the valley of the shadow of death in our own lives. We have to look for the blessing in it all.

Purpose plays a major role in Juno. People are constantly searching for what they are called to be (a mom, a rockstar, a normal girl, etc. ). One thing that impresses me about Juno's character is that she knows her role and she sticks to it. She realizes that she is not equipped to raise a child at this point in her life, so she turns it over to those who can. This is all way beyond her maturity level, and Juno is not afraid or ashamed to admit it. She knows her role and is alright with being in the process of figuring out her purpose in life. She is a work in progress (aren't we all), and she embraces this fact. There is no pride in her heart.

At one point, Juno wrestles with the idea of love between two people. She wants to know that it is possible for two people to truly love each other for the rest of their lives. Her father gives her great wisdom. He says "You need to find someone who loves you for exactly who you are, no matter what." Absolutely true. And that is a hard thing to find, and a hard thing to do. The film delves into that question, and examines our cultures ideas of love, marriage, commitment, responsibility, friendship, etc.

Along the lines of many "dramedies" lately (much like Little Miss Sunshine and Lost in Translation) Juno is an awkward, painfully real coming of age comedy that makes us laugh and cry at the same time. It asks questions that need asking, like: "What does a child mean and how does it change one's life?" and "What is true love?" The story treats teenagers with depth and dignity, something that is far too rare in films. It is also refreshing to see a film that is pro-life, and not just in a shallow political way. This film promotes the beauty and miracle of life itself. Juno is a joy to watch, an exciting and authentic trip into the psyche of youthful love and profound responsibility.