Juno: A Pro-Life Movie?

I have to warn you. What follows is not an unbiased opinion....

I went to see the movie Juno last Saturday with my husband and a dear friend. We had contemplated taking our 16 year old son and 13 year old daughter. I did the research before we left and the "sexual content" warnings were significant enough I thought we should view it before taking them. How glad I am for that little bit of wisdom!

While Juno appeared to be a pro-life movie in the trailers and previews, what I saw was less pro-life and more...how shall I put this?...an overwhelmingly sad commentary on the state of our society.

I know that's a heavy statement, but let me give you some details.

The character Juno, for which the movie is named, becomes pregnant at the age of 16 by her best friend, Bleeker. Forget the fact that Juno seemed entirely more wordly-wise than any 16 year old girl in the suburbs should be. Forget that she was completely crass and lewd in her comments. As unsettling as those things were, the elements of how she became pregnant (through a casual encounter with her friend on a night when they were "bored"), her response at being pregnant (it was more like she had an unsightly wart on her nose that needed removal), and the reaction of her best girl friend, (the pregnancy was simply something to take care of: Which women's center do you want to go to? Very matter-of-fact...) all told a story of how cavalier our young people are today toward sex and pregnancy.

Add to that the phone call where Juno made the appointment for the abortion -- it was like she was making a dental appointment -- and the brief encounter she had with the receptionist at the abortion clinic -- the girl was totally "goth" and her conversation with Juno entirely inappropriate -- and by what appeared to be a mood-swing, Juno decides against the abortion and determines to place the baby for adoption.

If all that wasn't bad enough, the reaction of the audience (it was a full theater) was beyond belief. I know the movie was billed as a comedy, but these people were laughing at a storyline that quite honestly made me ill. Of course I was seeing it through the eyes of all those I have spoken with that have been in those shoes -- pregnant, unmarried and faced with a life and death choice. I was watching this story through the eyes of the women and men I've known that chose abortion and lived to regret it. I watched it through my own eyes of having been an accomplice to an abortion.... And I couldn't believe my ears as the laughter continued throughout most of the movie.

My friend and I turned to each other more than once, astounded at the laughter; questioning what they could possibly be laughing at...and can I just say, marveling at how glad I was I hadn't brought my two teenagers!

So no, I would not consider Juno to be pro-life. There were some hints toward the value of the life that grew within her and was eventually delivered and adopted, but these afterthoughts of the beauty of life were completely overshadowed by the unbelievable callousness and casual acceptance of teen-aged sex and abortion.

My first comment as I exited the theater was that I felt like I needed therapy (and a shower!) after that movie.... What I had expected would be a message of hope and value in the life of the unborn, as well as a deterrent to teens considering or active in sex was anything but. Of course I should have known better when I heard there was talk of nominating the movie for an Academy Award.

Do I recommend you go see Juno? Surprisingly, yes. Go on a Saturday evening when the theater is full, but go prepared to be astonished...and go without your teen aged children. We need to not bury our heads in the sand; we need to know more realistically "where" our society is, but we also need to not be discouraged by it.

As hopeless as it looks, we have the truth and the hope of changing lives -- if one by one. Each one is significant. Each one has an impact on the lives in her/his circle of influence. And each one matters to God.

Juno is a sad commentary on the condition of our society, but we should not be surprised. Likewise it is a call to persevere on behalf of our children, their friends, and the countless masses that are wounded by past sexual encounters and abortion experiences.

The bottom line: God is good all the time and we who are blessed to be called by His Name have a job to do!

After you see the movie, come back here and post a message to let us know what your assessment of it was. We always love hearing from you!