Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature opioid drama has important message but falls short.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Junction
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In JUNCTION, three different, connecting stories about the opioid crisis are told. Michael (Bryan Greenberg) is a divorced dad who's become dependent on Oxycodone after having back surgery, and it's starting to play havoc on his relationship with his young son and his ex-wife, Allison (Sophia Bush). Mary (Ashley Madekwe) runs a pain clinic and has moral qualms about prescribing medication to those who may not necessarily need it, but she's struggling financially, and her teen daughter has just been accepted to Columbia University. Finally, Lawrence (Griffin Dunne) is the CEO of a powerful drug company, KanMed, which is being sued for unscrupulous business practices. Meanwhile, Lawrence's son, Jacob (Ryan Eggold), is gunning to take over the company for himself.
Is It Any Good?
This drama has a powerful, important message that needs to be heard -- but, unfortunately, that's about all it is; it's more about a situation than it is about a story or characters. The feature writing and directing debut of co-star Greenberg, Junction has a lot to say about the opioid crisis, including how highly addictive these drugs are, how even responsible users become dependent, how hard it is to break that dependency, how difficult the doctors' jobs are, and just who to blame (the drug companies). Greenberg occasionally includes montages of faces, presumably real people who've struggled with this problem.
Sadly, like many "message movies," Junction wears its message on its sleeve and doesn't give viewers a chance to participate in the conversation. The three stories don't allow give enough time to the characters for viewers to really get to know them, to make this an emotional issue. The movie's most powerful moment comes not from any of the main characters, but from a man (Dash Mihok) who testifies at the KanMed hearing. He was a ballplayer, newly promoted to the pros, when he had surgery on his elbow and became dependent on Oxycodone, even though he followed his doctor's instructions precisely. The story is told slowly, deliberately, and -- despite, or because of, Greenberg breaking it up into part of a montage -- makes a strong impact. So Junction may have had the seed of something powerful, but it needed either a softer touch or a harder punch to truly work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Junction's depiction of drug use and abuse. What are the consequences here? Is there any upside to medicine or drugs in this story?
Of the three main characters in the three stories, who faces the least harsh consequences? Why do you think that is?
Did this movie change your viewpoint or affect your empathy toward those who are dependent on opioids? If so, how?
Based on what you learned from the movie, what can be done to address the opioid crisis?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 26, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : January 26, 2024
- Cast : Bryan Greenberg , Ashley Madekwe , Sophia Bush , Griffin Dunne
- Director : Bryan Greenberg
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : VMI Worldwide
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 26, 2024
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