See this movie right now! Then please, please, please email me because this is a movie we have to talk about! For those of us who have been teen moms and who have devoted our lives to fighting for equal access to education for teen moms, this movie is a must see and a movie that I feel I have to talk about with other teen moms. It has a surprise ending and it twists and turns you until the very end, so I will not give the ending away, but, after you see this, we have to talk.

Okay, so you have probably already heard about how Juno, played by Ellen Page, is the coolest, hippest teen mom ever, and that she has a smart mouth as though she was actually fifty and finally is not taking any of that judgmental crap anymore, and that is all true. Juno has great one liners all through the movie thanks to writer Diablo Cody and Page delivers them with understatement, irony and tomboyish adoribility. Ellen Page or Juno: what's not to like?

The movie defies the statistics and the father of her child is not four or five or ten years older as is the norm but a young student in her grade who is as innocent as she is. Also defying the statistics, Juno has a super supportive father, played by the kind-eyed J.K. Simmons, who stands by her and makes jokes when Juno tells him she is knocked up, so we know that the whole family is funny. And the step-mom, too, played perfectly by Allison Jannez, although she seems at first that she will not be much help, rallies to the cause and even cusses out the sonogram technician who makes those judgmental comments we teen moms know only too well. Juno, also defying the statistics, is not coersed to leave high school, although we do see the school officials be snide and the other students avoid Juno like the plague and a hurt Juno knows "they are talking." Still, Juno stays in school. Good. We like that! Juno fights for her rights.

Juno also has a super supportive friend, Leah, played by Olivia Thirby who stands by her and suggests she check the Penny Saver for adoption ads. Juno rejects the sickening sweet ads and settles on one that is direct and to the point and she and her father go over to the McMansion to meet the couple. Juno says she wants the old fashion adoption, just take the kid and be done with it. No visits. No money. Just get the kid out of the oven and hand it over. Of course the couple is perfect. After all, this is about class. Juno's dad is a AC repairman and Professional Vaness Loring, played perfectly by Jennifer Garner, who wants a baby more than anything should have one, because, after all, she is rich.

 Where The Heart Is (2000) 

Director Matt Williams
Based on the book by Billie Letts
Starring Natalie
Portman, Ashley Judd and Stockard Channing.

Film Review by Lauren Mindel

 Riding In Cars with Boys

Based on the book by Beverly Donofrio

Directed by Penny Marshall
Starring Drew Barrymore as Beverly Donofrio, Rosie Pererz, Steve Zahr, Adam Garcia, Britany Murphy, James Woods
available on DVD

Riding In Cars With Boys (2001) is an inspirational movie that portrays hope and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Mixed with witty humor and harsh reality, Beverly Donofrio's true life story is brought to the screen. Beverly is intelligent and a good writer who always had big plans for herself. When she becomes pregnant at the age of 15 in 1965, she still continues her plan to go to college and have a career.

--------She marries Ray, the father of her son, and he attempts to be a good husband and father. Eventually, he turns to alcohol and heroin. Beverly finally asks Ray to leave, and he walks away from his wife and young son. Beverly learns on her own how to take care of her son, Jason. She learns from her mistakes and is lucky to have the help of her best friend, Fay, and her parents. At first, she neglects Jason and looks at him as an obstacle preventing her from completing her education. But she later realizes that he is the best thing that has happened to her life. In the book, which the movie is based on, Beverly graduates from Wellesley and does her graduate work at Columbia. I find that leaving out this vital information from the movie diminished its impact on the message of education.

      We watch both Beverly and Jason's journey from childhood to adulthood. Jason harbored resentment towards his mother and at times their relationship was strained. By the end of the movie, Beverly is successful in preparing her book, Riding in Cars With Boys, for publication and she is making peace with her son and father. The movie powerfully stresses the message that education is the key to possibilities in the future and the prevention of entrapment. The movie's uplifting ending shows how success and happiness is possible if you persevere and work hard for the important relationships in life.

Rent the DVD today!!

And buy the book: funny and a great story of a college mom.

 Art

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