Juno part 2

Why does everyone HATE it?
Easy. Now, not everyone is like me, and watched it 3 times in one night (might’ve been four). Not everyone loved it as much as me. Actually, half of my friends think it’s a pile of shit. This can be explained by a few things:
1) Hype. Hype ruins everything. The little movie that could, the movie that garnered a heap of awards can easily be expected to revolutionize your life. It won’t. And you’ll walk away going, ‘what the fuck did I just waste my money on?’ Also, my friends hate it because I won’t shut up about it. And that friends, is a form of hype right there. Hype kills. Avatar, The Hurt Locker, just a few things that were ruined by hype. Pixar and Christopher Nolan seem to be immune to it though.
2) The script. Again, Diablo Cody can hit or miss. If you’ve caught Jennifer’s Body, you know you need the PERFECT cast to pull it off. Jennifer’s Body had Megan Fox. And it was a pile of crap. But others who watch Juno would be like, ‘that’s NOT how teenagers talk! This is the most inaccurate film ever! WHAT THE HELL IS SHE SAYING?! IS SHE POSSESSED?’
3) Soundtrack. People find the unbearable cuteness, well, unbearable. Kimya Dawson, Velvet Underground, Antsy Pants. Ever heard of these? Yeah, me neither, before I saw the film. People may cringe at that last scene with the duet between Cera and Page, especially if they’ve hated the music up until the final shots.
4) Just to spite me. If I got a dollar every time someone told me that Ellen Page sucks just to annoy me, I’d be...well...$1047 richer.

One of Juno’s main problems (yes, I am being rational here) is that it glamorizes pregnancy, and the whole adoption/keeping the baby route.
Is it anti-abortion? Is it pro choice? The answer is... it’s much more complicated than that. But this film should not be taken into consideration when trying to decide what to do if you’re faced with such a problematic situation. It’s pure fiction, and the truth is much more complicated and difficult than the movie makes it out to be. Unfortunately, people take it much too seriously and accuse the film of delivering such radical messages. Again, not true.
However, the film gives us several situations where Juno is faced with these problems. First, the trip to the Women Now clinic, a place where she was going to get her abortion. However, after hearing from a picketing classmate outside the clinic about, no, not her child’s beating heart, not the fact that the child can feel pain, but that it has FINGERNAILS, and having some sort of ‘fingernail freakout’ in the clinic, she resolves to go through with the pregnancy, giving it up for adoption. A trivial thing such as fingernails is what changes her mind. Again, Diablo Cody, well done. You tackle the difficult subject of teenage pregnancy with humour, and thus, no serious aftermath should be inflicted to the viewers. So this “Juno Effect” that the press labelled during a rise in teenage pregnancy is, and always will be, utter bollocks.
Does Diablo Cody state her own opinion clearly? Maybe. Again, the fingernails thing. And also, during an altercation with the ultrasound technician, it’s clear that the technician firmly believes that adoption is necessary for a teenage girl like Juno, but ends up embarrassed and on the losing side of an argument with Juno, Leah and Juno’s stepmother, Bren. Is this a subtle and clever dig at the fact that adoption isn’t the best option for situations like Juno’s? Or is it just another humorous moment in Juno’s life?

2: Mark’s hesitancy and unwillingness to grow up, take responsibility, many subtle references.
Next up is Mark Loring! And to an extent, Vanessa. Now look away, because I’m about to spoilt something here (but seriously, if you haven’t seen this film, it’s been like 3 years, and obviously it means you haven’t been hanging out with me enough)

SPOILER IMMINENT

Mark gets cold feet. Actually, I’m just gonna go on a side note here. Paulie seems to be sweet, but dimwitted. The father does nothing but have a genuinely heartwarming talk with Juno.
Is it just me, or do the women dominate the screen?
Is this a feminist film?
Well come on, if you could make a film about pregnancy focused on males. One of my friend’s complaints was that it was all feminist, and there is my response to that silly statement.

Anyway, back on Mark, played by the lovely Jason Bateman. On repeat viewings, you can tell that Mark’s hesitance is showing up EVERYWHERE. EXAMPLE NUMBER 1 (not necessarily in order of appearance):
When listening to music in the living room, Juno directly asks Mark a question about the baby. Mark immediately directs his and her attention to the song, which was...Superstar? Sonic Youth.

EXAMPLE NUMBER 2:
Watching a horror movie. Juno asks what the baby’s name is going to be. Mark’s clearly uncomfortable here, and gives Juno a fleeting glance, says “VANESSA likes Maddison” (of course, this could also relate to the fact that Vanessa is clearly the one in control here, forcing Mark to pack his possessions into one little room), and immediately looks back at the horror movie.

MAYBE EXAMPLE 3:
When Juno leaves the note, Mark automatically presumes it’s a ‘bill’ from Juno. Vanessa however, is clearly in, and prepared for the motherly role, and immediately knows it’s for her.

EXAMPLE NUMBER 4:
Dancing. To Mott the Hoople. Juno clearly instigates it by the way, probably hurting from not being asked to prom by Bleeker, turns to Mark for a dance. Mark indicates at her (by this point, very pregnant) belly and says “it’s kinda getting in the way”.

Mark clearly does not want Juno’s baby, but Juno herself. The chemistry between the two is very complicated, not to mention plain weird, but it’s there, if only one way. Juno sees him as nothing more as a cool guy to hang out with, and the adopted father of her child. She likes Mark because he’s easier to connect with. They bond over music and horror movies, much like two friends should. However, when Mark states “What do you think of me?” with awkward pose included, it’s obvious he’s been pining for Juno herself.

Mark is a child. He doesn’t want to take responsibility. FINAL EXAMPLE:
When Juno is talking about a baby shower, Vanessa said that people wouldn’t throw them one. Mark then says: “COLD FEET”. Now, we automatically presume that the pregnant girl was the one who got cold feet. BUT, we can easily presume that MARK got cold feet, JUST like he will with Juno!
“Your shirt is stupid”.
Mark never dresses in a suit, or a proper buttoned shirt. Of course, he works strictly from home, but the fact that we never see him wear something an ADULT would wear is an indication that he hasn’t grown up. Oh, by the way Vanessa, that ‘stupid’ shirt was Soundgarden. Do not bag Soundgarden.

Of course, the most prevalent evidence is him ditching his family life, just to start up a band in the city. Childish? Yes, very. Incredibly irresponsible. Mark does not want to take responsibility, so he runs away. Does this sound like something you would do when you were, say, 12?
“I got a loft”
“Well, aren’t you the cool guy?”

And that’s the last we see of Mark.
Of course, to be fair, Mark’s life is being ridiculously controlled by Vanessa.
“She gave you your own room in...in your whole house? For your...for your stuff? Wow, she's got you on a long leash there, Mark.”

*turns off horror film when hearing garage door opening*
“Vanessa doesn’t like it when I just sit around and not contribute.”

Maybe he just wanted to escape from his unbearably controlled life. Your conclusion could be both, or one of them. I personally think he was just being a little brat. His taste in music (and girls) was pretty damn good though.

Quotes that made my friends groan:
“Bren, you’s a dick!”
“Honest to blog?”
“I am fo SHIZ, up the spout”
“BLAAAGH! I’M A KRAKEN FROM THE SEA!”
“Jeez Banana, shut your freakin gob, ok?”
“OH SHIT, Phuket Thailand!”

Seriously, I don’t even know what that last one means.

Again, Diablo Cody’s interpretation on what’s ‘hip’. I liked it, a lot of people didn’t.


I could write more...but no one will read it anyway :) that's all I'm gonna give away, thanks for reading/not reading!