We have two people (the only ones I've heard)- Stevens and her agreeing counterpart Jim DeRogatis. Both disslike Juno. Whether their intentions are hidden behind a pro-abortion agenda, or whether they genuinely found Juno inauthentic, it's clear neither of them take the hit movie on face value, and they feel so strongly about their beliefs, they ask-- nay, demand us to "take a position on" it.
Why? Because it grossed x amounts of dollars- as Stevens wishes we would buy into? Or because like abortion, one must take a stand on our side, or thier side. Let's get down to the real truth- the real nitty gritty. They just can't take the movie and soundtrack on face value, but a step further reveals that when they pose the question "Do teens really act like this?" What they're really asking is, "Do teens feel this way about abortion?"
Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times spewed his screed, saying: "As an unapologetically old-school feminist, the father of a soon-to-be-teenage daughter, a reporter who regularly talks to actual teens as part of his beat and a plain old moviegoer, I hated, hated, hated this movie."
Even though DeRogatis is paid to critique the soundtrack, and not the movie, I still considered "What does being a feminist have anything to do with liking or disliking this movie, or the soundtrack?"
I can't be the first person to have trouble taking you seriously, can I, Jim? For a self- proscribed "old school feminist", I really don't think it a stretch to see that you're out of touch with today's youth.
"Are we really supposed to believe that a girl as intelligent and self-empowered as Juno, when determining the time to lose her virginity via a planned encounter with her best friend neglects to bring birth control?"
Um, Yes?
That's what you "old school" feminists believe, isn't it? That these women, capable of running and controlling their own futures and destiny should be able to choose, regardless of the situation that put them in a position to choose? Why don't I change the title for you, Jim? How about this one, as suggested by another poster:
Juno Gets Pregnant And Carefully Weighs Her Options, Before Bravely Deciding To Have An Abortion, After Which She Feels Some Wistful Sadness But Goes On With Her Life Like An Adult, Knowing She Made The Right Choice
Then you and the other 12 people who would pay money to see it could nominate it for a "Choice" award.
If you think deadpan ironic detachment is an emotional dead end, fine. But don't say it's inauthentic. You state, "The notion that kids -- even smart and sarcastic ones -- talk like Juno is a lie." Yeah right Jim, and the fact that my friends and I talked oftentimes in the Bob Newheart-esque demeanor- just like like Juno- when we were in school must be some fluke, right? Neverminding Juno's wall of emotionless apathy steadily crumbles and makes room for vulnerability (such and all character development was clearly lost on you), thinking pregnant teens aren't marked with the "ultimate outsider"- especially in Minnesota- puts serious doubts in everyone's minds as to you really knowing what teens are thinking.
Stevens, I just have two questions for you- since when do movies need to be one hundred percent authentic for thier messege to be real; and what are more upset about- that a girl chose to do the right thing, or that people want to go see it?
