Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the quirky, sardonic tone of the movie Juno is accurately and sincerely translated onto the film's soundtrack. Less loaded than the movie's main plot of teen pregnancy, these classic and indie rock tunes tackle issues such as love, friendship, and coming-of-age in an original, light-hearted, and intelligent manner.
Families can talk about the movie's message about teen pregnancy. Does the way Juno deals with her situation seem real? Why, or why not? What does your family think about teens having sex? Families can also talk about the unique mix of artists on the soundtrack. How do the songs from 20 and 30 years ago stand up to those created today? How do they all relate to the same themes? Also, how does the combination of simplistic harmonies and complicated lyrics match the tone of the soundtrack and the movie?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jacqueline Rupp
The movie Juno is quirky and irreverent and all that teen angst, sarcasm, and sentimentality is packed perfectly into the movie's soundtrack. Full of retro singles like "All the Young Dudes" from the '70s band Mott the Hoople and anti-folk tracks, such as the Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You," the album is off-beat and fun. Singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson, who provides six of the 19 tracks on the album, is a deceptively sweet singer whose lyrics have an intellectual bite to them. "You're so nice and you're so smart/you're such a good friend/I have to break your heart." Just as the film has done, the soundtrack transcends the clichéd plot of teen pregnancy and moves into much more nuanced and subtle terrain. At first, many of the tracks appear to have an innocent folksy feel to them; however listeners, especially teens, will appreciate the emotional depth of the soundtrack.
If you like cynically-hip tunes, you may enjoy the soundtrack to Napoleon Dynamite. For a soundtrack covering a journey of a different sort, check out the music from Into the Wild.
Reviewed: 01/08/2008
Rate It!
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ViolenceA few references to self-inflicted violence: "If you want to cut yourself, remember that I love you and if you want to kill yourself remember that I love you/call me up before you're dead we can make some plans instead." |
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LanguageSome explicit language, but not gratuitous. "We'll pray all this s--t our president has gotten us in will go away…F--k Bush and f--k this war." |
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Social BehaviorDealing with serious emotions and issues, the soundtrack's light-hearted tone and good natured lyrics keep this album from becoming too heavy for teens. |
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CommercialismObvious tie-in to the movie. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoOne reference to "ruffies." |
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