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Parents' Guide to

Junebug

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Odd, insightful movie best for mature teens.

Movie R 2005 107 minutes
Junebug Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

BestPicture1996
BestPicture1996 Adult
March 5, 2014
age 16+

An indie that's a little misguided!

I want to love "Junebug," because as someone who lives in one of these middle-class, quiet, southern towns with people I can relate to, this movie just loses sight of its own direction sometimes. Why do we care about the fact one of Madeleine's clients wants a fruit basket to secure an art deal? It goes aimless at points! I'll tell you when this film does shine though: when Amy Adams is onscreen. She truly is a joy to watch, her character is naive, but as sweet as can be, and you just want to give her a hug after you see the neglect her husband gives her. She also provides the movie its biggest laughs, which are frequent in the first half. We may not get to see a ton of character development from everyone here, but it's worth it if not just to see Adams shine onscreen.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

George (Alessandro Nivola), returns home to North Carolina with his new bride, Chicago gallery owner Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz). The trip is initiated by Madeleine's interest in a local "outsider artist," David Wark (Frank Hoyt Taylor). And she meets George's family for the first time: His mother Peg (Celia Weston), who distrusts Madeleine as an \"outsider.\" George's father Eugene (Scott Wilson). His brother, Johnny (Ben McKenzie), who resents his older brother's escape, but feels caught: working at a kitchenware warehouse, he's pursuing his GED and means to support his optimistic wife (and former high school girlfriend) Ashley (Amy Adams), now about to have their first child. Through the trip, George and Madeline begin to see each other in a different light. With their new knowledge of one another, they must decide how to move forward.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Odd, earnest, and insightful, JUNEBUG sneaks up on you. Viewers quickly see that George and Madeline's superficial differences (of habit and affect) aren't nearly as profound as their less visible differences (of values and ambitions). Madeline comes to see George in a different light, a man who escaped his past, but still solicits love and respect from his erstwhile community. When Madeleine focuses all her attention on securing her contract with Wark, she reveals to George a side of herself that he hadn't quite anticipated either.

Ashley serves as a connection among all the characters, admiring Madeline and George, loving her in-laws, and wanting more than anything for her frustrated husband to be like he used to be -- happy, energetic, and hopeful. But he can't imagine himself beyond his current life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the representation of cultural differences, for instance, regional, gendered, and generational. How do such disparities lead to assumptions and assessments? How do the various characters resent or feel jealous of one another, for seeming happiness or success? How does the movie turn around your expectations of who understands the stakes of these family relationships? How does "outsider art" become metaphorical for characters' feelings of alienation or loneliness?

Movie Details

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