Line #25 Film/Junebug


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/junebug_ver2_e1360769787140_358x333.jpg]]
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3	Released in 2005, ''Junebug'' is an independent comedy-drama film directed by Phil Morrison, starring Creator/EmbethDavidtz, Creator/AmyAdams, Creator/BenjaminMcKenzie, {{Creator/Alessandro Nivola}}, and Creator/ScottWilson.
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5	Madeleine is a fancy art dealer from Chicago. She's just married a man called George, and one of her potential clients happens to live nearby to his relatives. So naturally they take a visit to North Carolina so Madeleine can meet her in-laws:
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7	* Peg - George's aloof and grumpy mother, who takes an instant dislike over Madeleine, and seems to favour George over her other son.
8	* Eugene - the quiet and reserved father, who says very little, but acts as a MoralityPet for Peg somewhat.
9	* Johnny - George's slobby younger brother - a high school dropout still living at home and studying for his high school equivalency certificate.
10	* Ashley - Johnny's bubbly wife, who is pregnant. Things between the two are strained, though Ashley believes the baby will help their marriage.
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12	The film was a surprising hit on the awards circuit and even netted Amy Adams an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. An unknown actress at the time, this marked the start of her rise to prominence.
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15	!!''Junebug'' provides examples of the following tropes:
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17	* AccidentalMisnaming: Madeleine casually called Peg 'Pam' and 'Pat' at the beginning.
18	* AlliterativeName: '''J'''ohnny '''J'''ohnsten. Junebug would have been this.
19	* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Ashley believes that the baby will solve her and Johnny's marital problems. [[spoiler:Sadly, it didn't. But when she lost it, Johnny is seen on the phone to her asking if they could "try again".]]
20	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Ashley suffers a miscarriage and the character's situations aren't really resolved, but Johnny starts to show signs of caring for Ashley and George's family doesn't dislike Madeline.]]
21	* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: The three women; Peg (Blonde), Madeline (Brunette) and Redhead (Ashley).
22	* CainAndAbel: George is the successful brother who has an established career in Chicago and is adored by Peg. Johnny is the high school dropout who still lives at home and is looked down on by everyone. It's heavily implied that Peg favouring George drove them apart.
23	* ChekhovsGun: Ashley's love of meerkats. She firsts mentions it during her excited ramble when meeting Madeleine. Johnny tries to tape a documentary for her about them, but it doesn't really work.
24	* TheCityVsTheCountry: Madeline is a CityMouse in contrast to George's CountryMouse family. However, the film neither demonizes nor idealizes the city or the country.
25	* ConvenientMiscarriage: [[spoiler:The death of the infant during childbirth.]]
26	* TheCutie: Ashley is so cheerfully lovable. Which makes [[BreakTheCutie any pain she goes through]] ''incredibly'' [[TheWoobie hard to bear.]]
27	* DefrostingIceQueen: The final conversation between Peg and Madeleine has the former talking casually about George, implying she's warming to her new daughter-in-law.
28	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Johnny trying to tape a program about meerkats acts as foreshadowing that he does still love Ashley after all.
29	* FourthDateMarriage: George and Madeleine married only after a week of knowing each other.
30	* FreudianTrio: The three main couples.
31	** Eugene and Peg (Ego).
32	** George and Madeline (Superego).
33	** Johnny and Ashley (Id),
34	* GenderBlenderName: Ashley plans to name the baby Junebug if it's a girl - and still nickname it that if it turns out to be a boy.
35	* GenkiGirl: Ashley often gets very excited.
36	* HeelRealization: [[spoiler: While not necessarily evil, Johnny is an aloof and neglectful husband at the start of the film. After Ashley loses the baby, it's hinted that he is reminded of his love for her and wants to try and rebuild their relationship]].
37	* HighSchoolSweethearts: Johnny and Ashley, though not the happiest example.
38	* InsatiableNewlyweds: Madeleine and George's sex life is rampant, in contrast to the rest of George's family.
39	* LikeBrotherAndSister: Ashley is a real MoralityPet for George and he treats her as if she's his little sister throughout the film.
40	* MasturbationMeansSexualFrustration: One scene has Ashley masturbating to a picture of a young Johnny, back before they were married and their relationship became sour, showing she longs for the man he used to be, rather than the man he became.
41	* MoodWhiplash: Ashley going into labor is a pretty standard enjoyable, humorous scene. [[spoiler:It doesn't last long.]]
42	* MoralityPet: Ashley is clearly the pet of the family, not just George. It's she who bonds with Madeleine the most and the one who brings Peg's softer side come out.
43	* NoodleIncident: Whatever happened between brothers George and Johnny, it must have been very bad.
44	* NotSoStoic: Peg is an ice queen for most of the film but [[spoiler: bawls her eyes out when Ashley loses the baby]].
45	* OutOfCharacterMoment: A scene shows Johnny at work - and he's a different person. He's happy and joking around, which a lot of viewers have taken as an indicator that Peg's influence is what makes him so sullen around the house.
46	* ParentalFavouritism: George is clearly Peg's preferred son. If this extends to in-laws, then Ashley is also her preferred daughter-in-law.
47	* ParentalMarriageVeto: George's parents seems to dislike his and Madeline's marriage.
48	* ThePollyanna: Ashley always finds way to be optimistic.
49	* PomPomGirl: Ashley wished to be a cheerleader in school but didn't make the squad.
50	* TheQuietOne: Eugene is the quietest member of the family, rarely speaking to anyone.
51	* RunningGag: Eugene can't find his screwdriver, which he mentions at various points in the film. In one of the final scenes, Madeleine finds it in the baby's room.
52	* SecondaryCharacterTitle: Junebug is the name Ashley wants for the baby. Comes into [[spoiler: ArtifactTitle]] after [[spoiler: the depressing outcome.]]
53	* ShaggyDogStory: [[spoiler: Nothing really changes at the end of the movie, though it seems Johnny does care for Ashley and George's family doesn't dislike Madeline.]]
54	%%* SugarAndIcePersonality: Eugene describes Peg as such.
55	* TragicStillbirth: [[spoiler: Johnny and Ashley are both devastated when the baby is stillborn.]]
56	%%* WhamLine: [[spoiler:"Listen, we lost him."]]

Context Film / Junebug