Juno

Rarely does one look at movies with perspective…I have hardly ever been to a movie with high expectations and a need to analyse…I have rarely wanted to assume the position of a critic…I believe that a critic has the power to murder good movies, easily influence the audience into believing that even a decent movie is nothing but trash. Critics ARE human beings and what they portray with awe or disgust is but their opinion of a motion picture that has been produced with a lot of effort, money and talent combined. Critics walk into the theater with great expectations and there are very few movies that meet them. And there are very few movies that make a common viewer become a critic. Juno is one such movie. And if you have watched it, God bless you!

I nearly missed it. By the time my exams were over, the movie ran in selective theaters and that too only very late into the night. But lucky was I to have Inox run it at 10 a.m. on the weekends! And with two friends I saw probably the most moving and exceptionally well shot, movie of the year 2008. It will not make sense to narrate to you the story of Juno. I’d rather have you watch it without even the slightest of knowledge about it.

Being eighteen years of age, I could not be burdened more with responsibilities which involve only academics, and a bit of household work that I find myself forced to do because I live in my uncle’s home. Juno features a sixteen year old girl who turns out to be pregnant with a child that was a result of unprotected sex with a friend from her own school (Bleaker). The level of maturity displayed by such a young girl when she decides against aborting the child and giving it up for a couple that is desperate to have one is appalling (well, it is only a movie, but when you are one with the story that IS how you feel). Even better: She approaches her father and stepmother with the situation only after she has prepared a future for the child (impressive!). Surprising: Her parents don’t see it as much of a situation. They are pretty proud of her preparation and are both very supportive. Her father helps her out with the adoption formalities and her stepmother with the technique of handling pregnancy. Seems, this kind of thing was pretty common there for if I was in her place, I would be writing from my grave:S. The couple that Juno sees (Marc and Vanessa), on reviewing appear to be a rich family that does not disguise its good nature. On further review Juno finds out that Marc plays guitar, is a musician, loves horror movies, practically a man that she would love her child to have as its father. It is apparent that she likes the couple more because of the kind of guy Marc is. Vanessa is portrayed as a woman in great desperation to have a child. Later during the picture, she observes Vanessa in one of the malls playing with a child and comments: If she had a chance she would steal the child. Marc is portrayed as a character which is deceitful by nature. Juno realizes this when Marc plans to divorce Vanessa but hangs on to her decision to let Vanessa adopt her child. And through all this she even realizes that she is in love with Bleaker despite his reputation that originally kept her away from him. (The orange tic tac scene was quite a sensation.).

The movie is a flavor of “family is always behind you”, “First impression isn’t the last impression” and loads of sweetness and sarcasm combined. With country music as a background score and a finale to a delightful experience, it creates appetite and leaves you wanting for more!