You Know “Juno”?
Jan 27th, 2008 by John
Ellen Page
Julie and I recently saw the movie Juno. It’s about a 16 year old girl, Juno MacGuff, played by Ellen Page, who gets pregnant by her highschool boyfriend, Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera. The film, directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, is a humorous, witty, poignant story of teen impulsivity and respect for life. Julie and I were captured by Ellen Page’s fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants character Juno.
Juno contemplates aborting the child, even goes to the clinic, but true to her character, Juno on impulse decides to keep her baby. The clinic freaked her out. With the help of one of her friends Juno finds a childless couple who advertise for a baby. Juno meets Mark and Vanessa Loring (who is played by Jennifer Garner) and they make the legal deal for a closed adoption. Juno’s parents, of course, are both shocked and concerned for Juno and her condition and offer her both grace and guidelines.
Juno, the movie, is not a “Christian” movie, yet it portrays a deeply-held conviction of the Christian faith: the sanctity of life. Juno and Paulie, in a moment of teen boredom and impulsive passion, create a life. That life is kept, not disposed of when it could so easily have been. Juno makes the personally difficult and socially awkward decision to carry the baby to term, deliver it and give it away to a woman who desperately wants a child, yet can’t. I have yet to see anything so affirming of life come out of Hollywood. There is grace, there is courage, there is selfless giving, there is a startling pro-life decision. The movie not only views the sanctity of the baby’s life, but all the lives intertwined in the story. Julie and I marvelled at the countercultural story-line. Off-beat Juno goes against the grain of her society and does the very unexpected thing.
I went on the website of a renown Christian-family ministry, excited to see the movie review there. I was stunned. What a downer. Grudgingly, it seems, the reviewer admitted that the story was pro-life, but only accidentally so. Juno did not make a reasoned decision. Juno was in a culture awash with “moral relativism.” Juno and her friends used crude teen idioms. And, oh my God!, there was the banana and condom scene. But so what if Juno did not have a “Christian world and life view,” she kept her baby! Christians ought to be cheering her on. So what if Juno acts impulsively (most teens do) and turns on a dime and keeps her child? She makes a God-honoring, life-saving, other people-serving decision. This was not a Christian film, and I’ve yet to see the Christian establishment produce a movie that portrays the love of life, the grace of God, and the joy of serving others so well.
Jesus came and served. It was predicted and fulfilled that “a bruised reed he would not break and a smoldering wick he would not snuff out.” Jesus cherished the tiniest evidence of grace that he saw in the wounded and weak. He applauded the least signs of life that honored his Father. I think Jesus would have cheered, not jeered Juno. I think he would have shouted in the quiet darkness of the theater, “Way to go, girl!” Why are there so many soured nay-sayers in the establishment Christian community? Why are there so many who can’t celebrate just one blade of grace in a yard of weeds. They have to whine about all the weeds they see. For them, Juno didn’t live and play by their rules of the game so they can barely say anything good about her. If they do so, they do grudgingly.
Why are there so many in the USAmerican evangelical world so boringly and predictably judgmental?
Why?
[This post was accidentally deleted so I rewrote it. Please comment again, those of you who commented earlier. Thanks.]
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Andi & I saw this over the weekend. Such a great display of respect for life. I also appreciated the quirkiness of the teens. Very rarely does a movie so accurately capture that “teen spirit.”
This is #2 on my list of movies every youth worker must see… right under #1, which is ‘Saved!’
Ben and Andi,
We are glad you saw “Juno” and liked it. Why can’t we all celebrate the quirkiness of teens rather than look down on them. Juno really does capture the teen culture
John,
Thanks for this great review of the movie.
I am looking forward to going to see it myself and appreciate your review of the film.
The movie sounds good. I think I might see it. That Christian response was expected and sickening. Pharisee hearts.
preacherman,
I appreicate you stopping by and commenting. I think you’ll really enjoy the movie.
Sue,
I find it worrisome that the establishment Christian response to almost anything cultural is adversarial. We seem to have lost the ability to bless truth unless it is dressed in a King James Bible.
We loved it. I told my husband when we returned from the movie that this movie has the capacity of saving far more babies than any picket line ever did. Full of wisdom and courage. What a wonderful way to message the teens of this generation that there is another option.
Former Leader,
Julie and I are with you and your husband. I think that if the USAmerican evangelical church continues to be grudgingly stingy with grace and blessing, God will call up Hollywood and give them the assignment.
Good review, and I’m with you on this one. I felt like this movie should be shown in youth groups and discussed. Who knows?! LOL.
I had this movie in my top ten list for 2007.
Cheers.
Nathan,
I’m pleased you like the review. It is an excellent movie.
Blessings!
[...] 4. John Franke’s response to a Christian review of Juno [...]
I heard a great reasoning behind this pro-life movie (haven’t seen it yet, – I’m a single mom right now- who has time?) and the reasoning I heard really gives me hope for the world.
The world wants heroes.
And in a world craving heroes, well… movies with famous, much beloved stars aborting their babies are not nearly so popular as the star who ‘overcomes the odds’ or ’struggles through the pain and heartache of doing the noble thing’.
It was funny -in an ironic way more than haha – but, the Hollywood business is generally so greedy that they can’t necessarily put out the message they possibly would rather put out………… all because it wouldn’t sell as well.
I like that.
I’m not surprised that the christian establishment doesn’t like this movie.
I became a christian through the ministry of a CPC 18 years ago, and also chose adoption for my birthson.
The church about ate me alive with their criticism and just plain meanness.
After seeing the movie Juno I thought it would be a good idea to see how others in the Christian community felt about the film. I was not surprised to find words like, offensive, disappointed, disturbing, and disgraceful. Yet these are the same people who, I hope, would celebrate a teenage girl, even in the midst of a broken “sinful” lifestyle, choosing LIFE for an unborn child. I would hope that even if they knew the dirty details behind the teenager’s pregnancy they would not condemn her in their hearts. It is one thing to say with a smile that you care it is something entirely different to enter into the dirt and truly love. The tragedy that is uncovered here is that representatives of Jesus continue to put their ideals above the cause of Christ. When others don’t live up to our “Christian” standard they are offensive, and disgraceful, and this is why the American church is in HUGE trouble. Jesus came for the offensive, disappointed, disturbing, and disgraceful. If you cannot see that you are offensive, and disgraceful in the midst of a Holy God then I’m concerned for your soul. I dare say that Juno is one of the best anti abortion movies in the history of film and that many children yet to breath will be thankful for its conception.
flyawaynet,
I liked your comment– “It was funny -in an ironic way more than haha – but, the Hollywood business is generally so greedy that they can’t necessarily put out the message they possibly would rather put out………… all because it wouldn’t sell as well. I like that.”
I hope you get to see JUNO sometime soon.
Llama Mama,
I am saddened that you had to write, “The church about ate me alive with their criticism and just plain meanness.”
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive us.
Devin,
I agree with you, especially “Jesus came for the offensive, disappointed, disturbing, and disgraceful. If you cannot see that you are offensive, and disgraceful in the midst of a Holy God then I’m concerned for your soul. I dare say that Juno is one of the best anti abortion movies in the history of film and that many children yet to breath will be thankful for its conception.”
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
COMMENT #11 should read “John FRYE, not John FRANKE…”
Thanks.
Truly, how sad. For the record, in my home, with 15’s year of age, we dealt with a real, not a fun movie, but a real teenage pregnancy. Thanks for erasing me, John. I am sure Jesus would have done the same, no?
Lee,
I attempted to privately email you and discovered you had a fake email.
John
Lee,
I don’t believe the movie is educating teens on how to live their lives but rather giving adults an example of compassion in the midst of difficult decisions for pregnant teens.
Julie (John’s wife)
Lee (#19),
Here’s what I wrote to you at fakeemail@fake.com:
Lee,
Yes, I removed the discussion. It seemed to have desolved into a debate—who’s right, who’s wrong—which
is not the purpose of the blog nor edifying to other readers. We can disagree in the Spirit of Christ and bless
one another.
God bless you.
John
Relativistic and slippery. More dangerous than in your face R rated trash. Juno is pure Satanic trickery. Everyone and everything is ok. I’m ok, your ok. The gal behind the counter at the abortion clinic is as ok as the pro-life protestor outside. Juno’s boyfriend is ok whether or not he takes responisbility. The adoptive couple are ok, even though they are divorcing. Juno’s school mates are all ok and don’t seem to care because they are too busy talking about intercourse with the next guy or gal. This move is pure relativistic deception made to break down your teen’s modesty and further loose their innocense. I let my 16 year old see the film with her friends. She came home smiling describing it as funny and great. Lots of damage control to be completed in this household and lots of prayers
Hmmm. It’s a messy world. In that world God was enfleshed, incarnated. For those with eyes to see there is beauty and grace. Like God beauty and grace are often found in places you least expect, and in messes. Juno, the movie, was an accurate portrayal of a slice of contemporary life. In some ways it was an indictment of our culture and not a purveyor of it. Like when Juno is asked what she’s been up to and responds “I’ve been out dealing with things that are way beyond my maturity level,” referring to her having to negotiate the non-sexual, emotional connection that was made b/w her and the adoptive father and the revelation that he was seeking a divorce from the adoptive mother. Oh the things– the weights–we put on the young! We. Anyway, John, there are those who are so fixated on the weeds that they are rendered incapable of seeing that one blade of grace, of light, of love. There are others, though. Thank God! They don’t deny that there are weeds, but they do choose not to dwell on them. And they, I think, are open to the movement of grace in a way that those fixated on the weeds are not. When given the choice, I prefer the company of the latter to the company of the former.
Keep it up!!!
We saw Juno in the theater last winter and were really surprised that it was so inherently human and Godly (I was going to say Christian but I’m finding that that term doesn’t really work anymore in many situations). This is a controversial statement….but… people that don’t get this movie don’t really get Jesus. They get religion and they get legalism but they don’t get the true nature of God. Sorry but I had to say it. We need to rescue Jesus from those that want Christianity to be a a civic religion of regimented worship, prayer and rules. Would I let my 14 year old daughter watch it…no. However, will those that don’t know Christ see evidence of Him and…absolutely, yes!
I loved Juno, and appreciated this review/post.
@coolio dude: damage control, really? if your daughter is 16 she lives in a “Juno” world already. YES, Relativism is prevelant, but it is nothing new to the world. Break down thier modesty? Umm, maybe but look at the positive: Juno had control over her sexuality and CHOSE to do what she did (intercourse, adoption, the whole thing). That gives me hope – so many students are unwilling to accept personal responsibilty.
Run with the good!
I saw the movie a long time ago. I can’t remember all the detail. What I do remember was that I was really very sad afterward. Not so much for the mistake that Juno and the boy made, but more because there are so many Juno’s in the world.
But what saddened me most was that there are so many people who would rather judge that to serve. So many who would rather judge than love. So many people that would rather love that to reach out a hand, spend time with “Juno” and just get to know the person behind the face, the heart inside the body.
I think it is much easier to judge than to get out of our comfort zone and show love, spend time with a person. Sometimes love is messy. I work in a teen ministry, and in this kind of ministry it do get messy at time. But teens – all people! – are shouting out for love. It’s messy to serve people. It’s much easier to judge. To stay away than to get close.
Well, just my thoughts…
Have a very blessed day…
Freddie
Hey guys, I hate to burst the self-righteous bubble of “Oh my! Juno decides to keep her baby!!! *swoon* which means she values life and that OBVIOUSLY means the film is expressing christian values!!!!” (Because god knows if someone isn’t a christian they have no value of life and are just ITCHING to kill babies) But, alas, Juno is a different kind of film.
It is unabashedly pro-life, but not in the sense of the loaded term. I wouldn’t call the film’s pro-life in the abortion sense even though Juno decides to give up the baby for adoption rather than have an abortion. Perhaps pro-life activists believe that it is enough, but it would be a mistake to say the film is critical of abortion. Perhaps the better term is that the film is pro-living, or pro-living-your-life. The story’s core is how a girl who makes a mistake deals with the mistake and chooses to live her life rather than let it ruin her.
Just wanted to give my two cents!
Maddie
Dear Preach,
I provided the concepts for Juno as well as Passion of the Christ (and half a thousand more), and I can assure you that the flick is 100% Christian in concept. I did try my best to get them to keep the swearing down to a dull roar so more people could enjoy the story, but with my contribution finished, it was out of my hands.
Of course, Christians don’t need Hollywood flicks. It was the non-Christians and the near-Christians who needed it, and it was to them that the story was addressed.