Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Alfre Woodard saves formulaic tale; cursing, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Juanita
What's the Story?
Juanita Lewiston (Alfre Woodard) needs a break in JUANITA. Her oldest son is in jail, but innocent. Her daughter is an irresponsible mom who depends on Juanita for just about everything. Her youngest son, not yet an adult except in years, is clearly on the wrong path. Nine years working for $12.50 an hour at a medical facility is wearing Juanita down with no end in sight. Only her intricately created fantasy romance with a movie star (Blair Underwood, playing himself) gives her any pleasure at all. Even that fantasy lets her down when Blair, too, asks her for money. It's the final blow to a fragile equilibrium. To her family's astonishment, Juanita takes off, suitcase and map in tow, heading west. When she lands in Paper Moon, Montana, it's a whole new world populated by Native Americans and hearty Westerners. Juanita creates a job for herself in a surprising French restaurant on the outskirts of the small town. It's owned by Jesse (Adam Beach), a veteran who hasn't quite recovered from his stint in the Gulf War. Though only the first stop on Juanita's adventure, it may be as far as she needs to go. What she finds is much more than a passing adventure. It's strange, it's eye-opening, and it may help Juanita recapture the spirit she's so long struggled to find.
Is It Any Good?
Clark Johnson directs some unique characters, romantic fantasy sequences, and a quirky musical number, but only the magic of Alfre Woodard makes this otherwise thin story come alive. Referring to herself as a "ghetto cliché" (though her wardrobe and home decor belie that description), Woodard's Juanita is spicy, direct, and insightful in a knockout performance that's both easygoing and intense at the same time. In the early scenes, Juanita speaks directly to the audience and quickly establishes a breezy rapport. But that narration gets lost as the story moves forward, and it's missed.
Also on the downside, there are so many characters -- her Columbus family and good friend, the Paper Moon folks, and local Native Americans -- that there's simply not enough time to develop them, particularly the man she falls for. And the story feels random at times (e.g., a lengthy Native American celebration overstays its welcome, and an appearance by someone from back home comes out of nowhere). Still, it's gratifying that Netflix streams a movie that might not have found its way to audiences who like grown-up film with standout performances like Woodard's.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Juanita handles drinking and smoking. Are there consequences for that behavior? Why is that important?
Find out the meaning of the film and theater term "breaking the fourth wall." In which scene(s) does the movie use that device? In what ways did it add to your understanding of the main character?
How did the portrayal of modern-day Native Americans in this movie help break worn-out stereotypes and provide a measure of enlightenment and respect for the culture? How does stereotyping perpetuate prejudice?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 8, 2019
- Cast : Alfre Woodard , Adam Beach , Latanya Richardson Jackson
- Director : Clark Johnson
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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