My review of "Jennifer's Body"

We all remember Diablo Cody. We have all seen Juno with it's "too hip to be hipster" dialogue that raked in crazy money and an Oscar for best original screenplay. You either love her stuff or hate it. So, when I heard about her wanting to turn to an 80's style horror comedy by way of "Heathers", I was like... "Oh yeah!!! This is gonna be awesome!!!". Which is what Jennifer's Body aspires to be. It aspires to go after horror movie convention, while at the same time still maintaining some of that vintage lingo, while at the same time trying to make an artful and insightful comment on teenage secksuality in girls. As a result, it doesn't create something cohesive like Juno, but instead it is a frankenstein monster of ideas. That isn't too much of a bad thing in this case.

One of the positive aspects (surprisingly) is Megan Fox. She sells it. This kinda of character works for her, she knows how to play it. Just the way she reads lines sometimes is pretty cool, and some of her dialogue is pretty funny. Yes, people. Megan Fox can act. And, she does a pretty good job here. So does Amanda Seyfried. There isn't really a bad performance here. The problem comes when the dialogue just tries too hard... But, more on that later.

In some small town named "Devil's Kettle", Jennifer (Megan Fox) is the most popular, most beautiful girl in school. Her best friend is Needy (Amanda Seyfried), who is pretty much the opposite of everything that Jennifer was. You start to wonder why these two people are best friends when, in reality, they have next to nothing in common. It is one of the ideas that the movie toys around with. More on that later. Anyways, Jennifer wants to go to some bar to see a band called "Low Shoulder", and indie rock group headed by a guy named Nickolai (played by Adam Brody). Jennifer convinces Needy to go with her. But, when they are at the bar, a sudden fire breaks out, k!lling nearly everyone inside. Jennifer and Needy manage to escape. So does the band, which asks Jennifer to come with them. Jennifer, infatuated with the lead singer, decides to join them, much to Needy's disgust. But, Low Shoulder just so happens to be satanists who want to use Jennifer as a sacrifice to Satan so they can gain wealth and fame. But, Jennifer, as a result, becomes a blood-thirsty demon herself who feeds on pubescent boys. Needy, however, is trying to figure out what the hell is going on, and how she can stop it.

It's crazy to find these things in one movie. They almost don't belong together. But, the whole product that comes out of these strange combinations... they actually somewhat work. What is most interesting here is that the characters don't really seem like types. They build up plenty of layers to suggest a bunch of different things. Like, the idea that these two girls may have some untapped, unspoken secksual tension (which is addressed, randomly, through a too-long-for-comfort lesbian make out scene). They also suggest that Jennifer, who is popular and beautiful, has deep-seeded problems with insecurity, which is why she keeps people like Needy around her. But, the big problem is that they suggest things, but never ever follows through on those suggestions or the pathos that is built up. So, consequently there are hanging threads of interesting ideas that are, for the most part, left hanging to make way for gore, and violence, and more hipster dialogue.

Fortunately, however, the dialogue is hella funny alot of the time. In fact, some of the lines knock you flat. But, there are times when they really are trying way too hard with the hipster dialogue. For example, we get a line like "freaktarded"... what? I don't think that is gonna catch on anytime soon. But, for the weird moments, the actors go with the flow and make it entertaining. This is especially true for Adam Brody's character of the lead singer. His lines are pretty hilarious. During the 'sacrifice', he explains his motives to Jennifer saying, "Do you know how hard it is to make it as an indie band? You either have to get on Letterman or some retard soundtrack". And J.K. Simmons as a naive teacher has some of the funniest lines, even though they aren't connected with the strange Diablo Cody universe.

In fact, what hinders this from perfection is not the actors, or even the flawed script. It is the director. The director, Kathryn Kusama (director of the craptastic fecal waterslide that is "Aeon Flux"), clearly didn't know what tone this film should be. Because it is such a strange combination of genres, she just didn't know what direction to take... Hence the reason why the k!lls are a little underwhelming (except for one). But, this isn't a movie that is about mindless k!lling (like "The Final Destination")

But, overall, the film just charmed me. It is just charming and funny and (kinda) scary enough to make you almost overlook it's flaws. I enjoyed the movie. i thought it was a funny, and clever horror comedy that just needed to go deeper into the underlying layers it built up. If you hate Diablo Cody, then you'll hate this. It sure as hell isn't deep or great, but it's fun. And, at the end of the day, what could you expect from a film like this?

too much to read at 11am on a sun morning..will get back to it lata.

its not deep or great but its fun???


this movie was pure garbage from start to ending.....weren't you the same clown in the Next Day Air thread saying that was a terrible movie and how you didnt want to hear any excuses like "this aint a oscar written movie but its good for what it is" and now you basically saying "this isnt a deep or oscar written movie...but its good for what it is"


wow......movie was so bad that i not only dropped it in my recycle bun....but then i deleted it from my recycle bin because i didnt want that trash anywhere on my harddrive.....i then ran a anti-virus check because....well just for the fucc of it.....terrible movie

So, you downloaded it? That's one reason you probably hated it, and I didn't.

I never said anything about this being an Oscar winner, besides the fact that the writer is coming hot off of an Oscar winning film (for which she recieved the award), so you should expect some dope stuff. Period. I knew that this wasn't going to be that movie. Just like I knew Next Day Air wasn't going to be an Oscar winner... But the difference: THIS IS GOOD. NEXT DAY AIR ISN'T.

You know what I did that you didn't do? I explained why I liked it. I explained the flaws. I explained my problems with it. I explained why I like it. You're just saying "Oh... Well, it's just garbage". Why? Because you didn't get to see Megan Fox nak3d. Get out of here, and actually explain your reasons for not liking.

Tell me... did you like "Transformers 2"? Because if you did, then that lets me knows that you don't actually like films that are 'about something'.

the bx siskel and ebert strikes again

[pic][pic][pic][pic]

I'd watch it if it came on tv, but I wouldn't spend money on it. But I don't expect every movie I watch to be oscar worthy or even to have a good plot line. It would be impossible for every movie to have that. Some movies are just funny and stupid period. Some ppl just movies and think they're unbiased, when they're just as biased as anyone else.

LOL @ your constant hate for Transformers 2. You mention it more than the actual fans. I think every review you wrote mentions Transformers 2.

The fact that you would try to get on someone for enjoying Transformers 2 yet you being "charmed" by Jennifer's Body is laughable.

Well, let's see... Jennifer's Body is written and made by people who have reputable names and have made good movies, not to mention movies that are still widely quoted, talked about, and watched on a level that isn't just stupid fun. So... you see a problem with this.

Bottom line: Jennifer's Body is good, in my own humble opinion. It's not something I would watch again, but I had fun watching it. At the end of it all, that is what matters... if you're entertained. And, I was, take it for what it is. My opinion is subjective.

[pic] Seriously. This dude went in there with a pen and a notepad.

What I don't get like everybody else is why you can't admit next day air wasn't all that bad. It had its moments, it didn't do some soul plane shuckin and jiving BS , it just didn't live up to expectations of the cast and premise that they had. Jen's body sounds down right freaktarded (amazed I could use that in a sentence!), but you say it works? I haven't watched it yet, waitin for Demonoid to come back online. I know when I do I won't be as objective or subjective as the rest of you !!s that either want evdery flick to be a classic or say its !!in garbage. And Omega, Transformers 2 wasn't that bad fam. I felt it for what it was. I mean it could have been Wolverine? And that movie sucked[..], especially if you still read the comics, its like ohhhhh look at all this source material, lets put it to waste and !! on it!

Wow


jennifer's body = good movie???? Seriously?? Wow just wow

i guess in your eyes the happening deserved to win best movie of the year then huh
im just gonna leave it at that
Posted via Mobile Device

laughable. All laughable.

Actually, The Happening was pretty retarded.

Did you see it?

Okay, first things first...

Transformers 2 was garbage TO ME. You don't have to share my opinion, but when I do have that opinion, I express it. Wolverine was terrible too. And, Next Day Air was the shuckin and jivin movie that you are talking about! It was a complete waste of time that should have never gotten past the editing room. Again, my opinions.

And, I stick by my opinions. I liked Jennifer's Body. No, it's not a great film. But, it wasn't terrible, therefore I liked it. And, that is the end of that.

Not to be confrontational, but every time I come up in here with an opinion that doesn't match your's, you go crazy and start making insults.

Can ANY of you tell me why you thought Jennifer's Body was bad? I'm not hearing alot of reasons. All I'm hearing is "Oh, that movie was !!ty, but nobody is telling me WHY they thought it was !!ty. It's almost as if none of you actually went to see it (which is what I'm[..]uming based on the box office numbers), but you're just harping on it only because it's "cool".

I explained myself. I explained why I liked it. I'm not hearing ANY responses as to why it is supposedly crappy.

I cant believe this guy actually PAID to go see this movie...Talking about the writers past accolades.


Look this movie is 90 percent Business move, 10 percent Talent.Expect to see more One shot piece of !! movies or shows and music videos starring Megan Fox JUST because shes Hot Topic at the moment.The writers, actors, producers, and all were in this joint just to make a quick Buck off the Acclaim that megans gotten through Transformers 1&2.


So to startup this thread, acting all high & mighty about knowing what the writers did Means absolutely nothing. They didnt intentionally make this movie HOPING it goes anywhere but to the BANK. LOLLLLLLLLLLL At you being the ONLY person in america who Probably took this as a serious attempt at Film Making.

Ummm, I didn't pay to see it. I got in free.

I never said it was a serious attempt at filmmaking. As a matter of fact, the reason I liked it more than you (who have actually seen it) did is because my expectations was completely bottom of the barrel.

And, you'd be wrong because this script was written before Megan Fox was even famous.

It was alright, but why did i pay $11 just to see. some making out and a hand-up a shirt. That theater was a sausage fest.