OctoberBaby - Movie Review

Abby and I were discussing this movie and our thoughts on it, as adoptive moms. She elected me to write a movie review, probably because my opinions tend to be strong, but also because I think we can say we feel the same way.

A short synopsis: a college girl (named Hannah) is going through some emotional and physical issues and finds out that, not only was she adopted, she was also a survivor of an abortion attempt.

My review:
3.5 out of 5 stars

The good: Great pro-life/adoption message. The acting was very good, the soundtrack was exceptional. I am happy to give my hard earned cash to movie studios that produce movies like this.

The bad: Production. Something about the movie didn't flow, but I just can't put my finger on it.

The ugly: Here's my ranting part....ready?

I am so irritated, borderline furious, that several times throughout the movie, she said she didn't know who her "real" parents were. Her friend Jason furthered that line of thinking by shouting at her father across the street that he wasn't her real dad.
Here are my issues with that: 1) While I understand she is going through a very emotionally traumatic situation, her parents needed to make it clear to her that they were her parents. 2) When Jason shouted the line about her father not being her real father, said father needed to march across that street, take Jason by his collar, give him a good solid shake and say, "I am her father!" Not sigh and get back in the car.

Here's the thing. As an adoptive mom, I am continually defending my love for my non-DNA related children. It's unbelievable to some that my love is just as strong as it would be for biology.

That thought so completely permeates our culture that I bet most people watching that movie didn't blink an eye at those scenes.

Adoption needs defended. Not questioned.

Had the producers brought in one adoptive family to screen the movie, this could have been resolved. Let Hannah and Jason shout all they want about who's the real parents and who's not. But show Hannah's parents rising up and showing their daughter who her parents are. Show Hannah's parents cluing Jason in on what defines "real" parents.

Oh, please know that I know we might be dealing with this in our house. Please, no lectures on what my children may say and do when they are teenagers. I am well aware that I have no idea what's in front of me. I know I may end up in tears of grief just as much as my girls end up in tears of grief. But also please know I will hold my girls so tight with the message of my love for them that eventually they will come to a place where they know they are completely and unconditionally loved by me. Regardless of their genetic code. But I will remind them, time after time, with actions (and words, if needed), that I am their mother and I would lay down my life for them.*

(Aside: please read Love, Unnaturally)

The story line about Hannah not knowing she was adopted is just completely stupid. I know that happens in real life. But it just came across as completely unbelievable in the movie. It would have been much more believable if her parents had told her she was adopted, but the story was about her finding out she had been the survivor of an abortion attempt. That would have been just as effective, powerful and emotional.

Lastly, Hannah decided to go on her "finding my real parents" journey with some guy. While that is somewhat believable in the movie because her parents were obviously idiots and liars for not telling her she was adopted, it's still part of that whole stupid part of the movie where her parents don't tell her she's adopted. In fact, if we are really thinking hard about this plot, the ending is so unbelievable because she ends up, just a short while later, forgiving her parents. I sure as heck know that if I had found out all this when I was in college, it would be years, I mean years, before I would come to acceptance with the sheer amount of lies that would have come out of my parent's mouth. In fact, I might have even have questioned my, theirs, and everyone else's faith.

Other than that, the movie was good.

Feel free to rent it and let me know if/how you agree/disagree with me.

*Matt agrees with everything I wrote