I finally saw Juno last night! (spoilers inside!)

[Ruthla]

I'm now stuck with a lot of questions about how realistic this all was. ...here's some more spoiler space so I don't give anything away with mouse-overs...

Don't anti-abportion protesters generally work in groups, rather than one person with one sign in the parking lot outside a clinic? And do clinic employees generally act THAT unprofessionally?

Are there actually adoption ads in the Pennysaver?

Do birth moms REALLY only interview one couple? Somehow I had the image in my head that women would interview 2 or 3 couples, and if one split up she'd likely select another couple rather than placing her baby with a single mom?

Why was the biodad so uninvolved? Don't they need his permission (and that of hiis parents, if he's underage) to finalize the adoption?

[philomom]

I too, found it over-simple and too tidy.

[bigeyes]

I've seen protesters both singly and in groups as I've driven by clinics.

[plantmama]

I really don't think it was supposed to be a how to on adoption/ teen pregnancy, lol.
Personally i thought it was a little light hearted for the subject matter. but she did cry after the birth and was definitely into doing the right thing. I think most of the choices made that in telling the story that seemed unrealistic were made for artistic purposes. Like to be funny etc...

I don't know about the father's legal role in teen pregnancy/ adoption but the other things are definitely conceivable. I think juno found the couple and just sort of made her decision because she didn't want to deal with it, make it seem really important to her. I mean obviously the adoptive mom's whole life was not something Juno would seek for herself. And she had already seen how much the adoptive mom longed for that child and why would Juno care that she was single? She was obviously kind of a counter culture kind of girl.
I've come across ads in the classifieds for couples seeking to adopt.
And I've seen lone protesters at clinics.

What was interesting to me was that Juno was abandoned by her mom and I would have thought there would be more conflict for her there in giving up her own child. But perhaps that relates back to her calling the baby "the thing" and acting casual about it with the adoptive parents.
I thought a lot of the other issues were more implausible to tell you the truth.

[Juvysen]

What was interesting to me was that Juno was abandoned by her mom and I would have thought there would be more conflict for her there in giving up her own child. But perhaps that relates back to her calling the baby "the thing" and acting casual about it with the adoptive parents.

Interesting point.

I don't know about you all, but this was one of those movies that stuck with me for days after I watched it. I'm not real clear on why, but I couldn't get it off my mind.

[mrscompgeek]

This movie is just a fiction movie, not based on a life story. It wasnt meant to be "lifelike" kwim? Personally I loved the movie, but I just enjoyed the comedy and tried not to read to much into the plot.

[Ruthla]

See, I enjoy movies more when I can look at all the inconsistencies and see what's *real* and what's *dramatic liscence*.

[mrscompgeek]

I guess Im not a movie critic (I mean someone who looks more into the movie plot and the realism of the movie) I am more of the type that when a movie comes on I shut down brain cells and just mellow out. . Lol
But then again I like Baby Mama too and I have heard alot of people say they didnt like that one either for it not being real enough.

[UnassistedMomma]

As a birth mother myself, I found myself really, really angry after watching it because of the way the adoption decision and process was handled. There were many, many things about it that were just totally off and it made me angry to think that people outside of the triad or at least that part of the triad would see it and think that's how it really was.... especially the adoptive parents and my own bio-daughter b/c I know from her facebook that my bio-daughter was REALLY into that movie. I don't want her OR her parents to think that's how casually I regarded my decision to place her.

[angelpie545]

I thought it was sort of negligent of the producers to portray such hot-button cultural issues as if it was just something to be taken very lightly. Adoption is *not* a walk in the park for any parties involved. This movie sort of romanticized the whole process and left the nitty gritty tough emotional times out of the scenes and to the audience's imagination. I'm not a birthmom (though I was a teen mom) but I could imagine being very put off by the movie if I was. It is very unrealistic that a sixteen year old girl, barring any severe emotional issues, would behave in the way that Juno did. Juno struck me as behaving the way a thirteen/fourteen year old would if they found themselves in that situation. Granted, Juno did make some very mature choices, but matched with her very immature personality it just wasn't very believable for me. Also, I could NOT STAND the comment that Juno's stepmother made: "I thought she was expelled or into hard drugs, jeez, anything but this" about Juno's pregnancy. That seemed really unnecessary and is very offensive to teen mothers who take their parenting very seriously.

I realize that this film is not meant to be realistic, but honestly when you deal with situations are so emotionally charged in reality people are going to compare them to their own or other's experiences of the same. Despite all my harsh criticisms I did feel the acting was very genuine and I *loved* the chemistry between Ellen Paige and Michael Cera (but then again, I pretty much just love Michael Cera ). Jennifer Garner did an excellent job playing a woman who is desperate for a child and is striving so hard to make herself the best candidate for a potential birth mother. Despite all the problems with reality in the movie, I don't think it's so far off the have a teenager hand her child off to a single mother. Jennifer Garner's character would have probably been an excellent mother either married or single, and the same extends to real-life situations. Some single parents provide great stable, loving environments for adoptive children. Out of all the outcomes in the movie, I really liked that one the best.

[cjanelles]

Originally Posted by UnassistedMomma

As a birth mother myself, I found myself really, really angry after watching it because of the way the adoption decision and process was handled. There were many, many things about it that were just totally off and it made me angry to think that people outside of the triad or at least that part of the triad would see it and think that's how it really was.... especially the adoptive parents and my own bio-daughter b/c I know from her facebook that my bio-daughter was REALLY into that movie. I don't want her OR her parents to think that's how casually I regarded my decision to place her.

See, I'm a birth mom, too...and I feel completely different about the movie.

I loved Juno, the girl. And she reminded me of myself--and I assure you, there was nothing casual about my decision to relinquish my daughter.

I guess it''s just all about individual experience and perspective.

[Fiestabeth]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Also, I could NOT STAND the comment that Juno's stepmother made: "I thought she was expelled or into hard drugs, jeez, anything but this" about Juno's pregnancy. That seemed really unnecessary and is very offensive to teen mothers who take their parenting very seriously.

I loved the movie, and I loved that scene where she told her parents, because it was so similar to my own life when I told my parents I was pregnant at 18. I guess my family just has a very dry, sarcastic humor. I just saw it as a sarcastic comment aimed at showing how people do act like it's the worst possible thing that could happen when a teen ends up pregnant.

The movie was very believable to me because I've lived it, except I didn't give my baby up for adoption. I was telling a friend my whole story the other night and she was laughing hysterically and said, "OMG, you're Juno!!!"

[journeymom]

As a person who has never adopted or put a child up for adoption, I'll say that I didn't rent Juno thinking it was a source of real information about adoption. I heard it was funny and touching in a flippant, uber-hip way, and that's totally what it was. I loved it.

"I thought she was expelled or into hard drugs, jeez, anything but this."

I thought that line was hysterical and it's one of the things that got me to watch the movie. I think it was gently skewering people who think teen pregnancy is worse than using hard drugs, getting the audience to consider that teen pregnancy doesn't have to be a disaster. Juno doesn't use drugs, and doesn't drop out of school when she gets pregnant. Her biggest sin was to have sex and get pregnant, which, relative to the other two sins, is at least joyful and life affirming.

[Ruthla]

No, this movie isn't a source for even-handed information about teen pregnancy and the adoption triad- it's just one fictionalized account. However, I did watch this with both of my daughters and has led to many discussions on the topic. I'd like to answer their questions as accurately as possible.

As for that "I was hoping you were on drugs or expelled" line, I cracked up. I think the CHARACTER was trying to lighten up the situation. I don't think she really would have preferred it if her DD was expelled or on drugs!

[texmati]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I'm now stuck with a lot of questions about how realistic this all was. ...here's some more spoiler space so I don't give anything away with mouse-overs...

Don't anti-abportion protesters generally work in groups, rather than one person with one sign in the parking lot outside a clinic?

I'm actually watching it now (again!) I think that the movie was more about juno growing up and figuring out what kind of girl she is.

I think the reason that the adoption protester was only one girl that was around juno's age was to show that Juno wasn't bullied into keeping the baby. Su chin was the total opposite of intimidating.

[phathui5]

Are there actually adoption ads in the Pennysaver?

Yup. At least here.

[MayBaby2007]

Haven't seen the movie.

But we have adoption adds in the paper here too.

About the fathers right and permission for adoption? In Illinois, if you are not married, you have to take extra steps to avoid baby being placed for adoption. See HERE

What if I don't establish paternity?

If you don't establish paternity, then you will have no legal right to be involved in your child's life. Also, if you do not register with the Putative Father Registry within 30 days of your child's birth and initiate paternity proceedings within 30 days of registering, your child can be adopted without your knowledge or consent and you will permanently lose all rights to the child. You can register before the birth of the child, but no later than 30 days after the birth of the child.

Scary, huh?

My dd is 17 months old. Her father has not established legal paternity. He did not sign her birth certificate. She has his last name, but he is not identified as the father. (He doesn't deny he is the father. He just has reasons for not putting his name on BC).

If I met my dream man and decided I wanted him to formally adopt my daughter, I could. Then, there would be nothing dd's dad could do about it. I would never do that--but I could. I don't think he is aware of all of this.

[OakBerry]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

No, this movie isn't a source for even-handed information about teen pregnancy and the adoption triad- it's just one fictionalized account. However, I did watch this with both of my daughters and has led to many discussions on the topic. I'd like to answer their questions as accurately as possible.

As for that "I was hoping you were on drugs or expelled" line, I cracked up. I think the CHARACTER was trying to lighten up the situation. I don't think she really would have preferred it if her DD was expelled or on drugs!

I agree, I thought the actress who played the step mom (Allison Janney) was phenomenal in that role, and very funny.
I liked the movie, although some of the uber-hipness did get a bit annoying at times.

[LavenderMae]

I just recently watched this movie too. I thought Juno (the character ) was pretty funny as was her step-mom, as were other characters. It is pretty light hearted for the subject matter but it worked okay imo. I'm usually not a fan of adoption themed movies but this one was okay. One of the reasons I liked the movie is because Jennifer Garner's character was still able to adopt the baby. If she hadn't been the movie would have sucked imo.

[Ruthla]

I guess adoption laws vary from one state to another? I remember the drama my cousins went through adopting their DD 20 years ago- she was about 6mo before they could formally adopt her (although she came home at 3 days old) because various bio family members needed to sign off- both bio parents were underage, and the bio dad's parents were divorced, etc.