What I found most jarring about "Juno" when I saw it was that taken at face value, the interactions portrayed in it make no sense. The girl is impossibly self-assured, clinically detached and jaded. She treats the adults around her as equals, if not as inferiors, and the adults, likewise, respond to her as they would a poised, assertive adult--which is what she seems to be, in all respects other than her actual age. Moreover, these adults scarcely exist apart from her--their lives seem to revolve around her, as if populating her life were their only purpose. This solipsistic unrealism reminded me a lot of the film,"Peggy Sue Got Married", in which a middle-aged woman suddenly wakes up (or perhaps falls into a dream) to find herself back in high school, taking advantage of her knowledge and experience to recognize and correct her youthful mistakes in dealing with various people.

In the latter film, though, the title character eventually reconciles herself to the life she embarked on as a naive youth. "Juno" hints at a much darker reality: the girl's jaded detachment, as well as several plot elements I'll refrain from revealing, suggested to me a sexually traumatized twentysomething fantasizing about re-experiencing her vulnerable teen years with the protection afforded by her adult knowledge.

In fact, it was only after seeing the film--and having this reaction--that I learned about screenwriter Diablo Cody and her past as a stripper and peep-show performer. Obviously I don't know what drove her into the sex industry, but I'd guess it's probably the same thing that inspired this fantasy screenplay.

I mentioned this in another comment, so perhaps I should just post. In her memoir, Candy Girl, Diablo says, "I guess I was never molested as a child because I wasn't pretty enough."

Denial. It ain't just a river in Egypt. At least, that's what a friend of mine who is an abuse survivor said when she read this line. It's ugly and ignorant. I think you hit the nail on the head with your post. Excellent thinking!

I neither know nor care about Cody's personal life. What I do know is that because adolescence is for most of us a time of awkward blunders, the fantasy of being a teenager and knowing what you're doing is powerfully attractive. A great deal of romantic and plain sex fiction about teenagers is more a fantasy of competence and control than anything else.

It is common these days to pass off the conditions for the dysfunctional family as the norm shouded in the glow of "traditional family values." In my youth the word used to describe it would have been, "rationalizing." It might be of more interest to consider what a woman would do, if she were one who had pursued the non-traditional "family value" course, one that many women tried to pursue a generation ago ... of assuming responsibility for herself, of taking the obligatory birth control pills, putting herself though college and after, struggling with the rigors, the near impossiblity in fact, of finding a partner in life, cast off rather as the "woman in army boots." After persuing the proper course in a climate of media saturated with teenage super-model hotties and rampant teenage pregnancies - and movies about them ... migrant overpopulation ... follies of a new surge in baby-booming, if such a woman could go back, what would SHE do? Could she reaffirm her choices? It has certainly proven more profitable for a woman to persue Cody's course, any jaded girl in any city anywhere. Is profit a fair trade for ones soul? Must the soul be the price to be paid for companionship, love, and family?

Dan: I don't know what movie you were watching. First Prggy Sue was a simple movie about a person going through a tough time in real life wanting to go back when it seems that life was better. She soon realizes that whatever time you are in is tough and you simply have to face the problems and move on. A great movie, by the way. Juno - you first say she treats adults as equals or inferiors and that doesn'y make sense. Are you kidding me - ALL teenagers do that. They first think they know everything, and then want all the perks of being an adult WITHOUT having to dace the consequences of their actions. But the real "scared" little girl comes out when she tells her father that she doesn't know what kind of girl she is - huge point in the movie. The father (very funny in the movie) then councils her about finding someone to love her for who she is (that's good advice). and Juno starts to grow up. This was a great movie with lots of "stuff", but no one got killed, no special effects, and some folks just didn't get it! Maybe you should she it again and take the stuffed shirt off when you go. Thanks

It's almost as if this film is an insult to those who have been in a similar situation... no? It is simply not REAL... other posters have commented on how it doesn't need to be REAL it's a MOVIE!! (and things of this nature)

However... this is a serious subject and the whole tone and presentation is just revolting.