Juno (film)

Juno
Release Date: December 25, 2007
Director: Jason Reitman
Writer: Diablo Cody

Plot Summary:Juno MacGuff and Pauley Bleeker are best friends, and one day they have sex together and then Juno finds out she is pregnant. Juno doesn't have an emotional freak-out, instead she is witty and funny, and dry. She tells her parents and they all talk calmly and her parents remark how they can't imagine Paulie Bleeker being the dad, and that they wished she was going to say she was into hard drugs instead.

She at first plans to have an abortion but once in the clinic, she decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption. She seeks an adoptive couple in the Penny saver. She finds an affluent couple and chooses them. She spends time getting to know them and at first the husband played by Jason Bateman seems kind, but he later reveals a self-indulgent mid-life crisis kind of personality. The wife played by Jennifer Garner appears neurotic but is actually kind and ecstatic about having a baby.

Juno sees that they aren't the happy couple she thought and her plan appears to be falling apart, meanwhile Paulie considers dating someone. Eventually Juno realizes that Allison will be a wonderful mother and chooses to give her the baby regardless. She and Paulie get close again, and on the day she gives birth, Paulie holds her as she cries.

Critical Analysis: Juno thinks seriously about the baby, about who she can give it to, and how it is the ultimate gift. Paulie is a kind respectful boy and even as we know teenagers shouldn't have a baby, the characters make you wish they could stay together and have the baby. Diablo Cody's abrupt and sarcastic style works well in conveying Juno's frustration with her life, and helps us to see that while she is calm at times she is terrified.

Annotation: Juno and her best friend, Paulie Bleeker make a baby, and now she will give the baby to an affluent couple she found in the Penny Saver. The film spans over her pregnancy watching as she experiences each stage both good and bad.

About Diablo Cody: She was born June 14, 1978, in Chicago, then moved to Minnesota. She took up stripping as a hobby and it later became her job. She worked for Deja Vu, and a place called Sheiks. At one point she became a telephone operator. Then returned to stripping. She was married then moved to the suburbs where she claims "no one strips unless they are taking a bath" (IMBD)http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1959505/bio. She had a step daughter as well.
Genre: YA Comedy

Curriculum ties: Health/ Creative Writing

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Would you be able to carry a baby to term and then give it up for adoption?
2.) Do you think that Paulie Bleeker and Juno could be together now?
3.)Her parents handled the situation very well, do you think that more teens would make responsible choices if they had parents who supported them?

Reading Level/ Age interest: PG-13 / 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues: None

Selection Reasons: I would use this film because even with the theme of teen pregnancy, they manage to treat the subject responsibly in this film. It is also on the YALSA Outstanding films list.