TIFF Movie Review: Jennifer’s Body

September 18, 2009 by Liam
Filed under: Movie News, Movie Reviews

Jennifer's Body Review

Jennifer’s Body stars Megan Fox as Jennifer and Amanda Seyfried as her best friend Needy (short for Anita). The two have been BFFs since childhood (they have matching charm necklaces to prove it) despite the fact that at first glance they might not look like the kind of girls who would have anything to do with the other. Jennifer is gorgeous and popular while Needy is frumpy and bookish. One night, Jennifer invites Needy to see a visiting band at the local club. Actually, it’s a dumpy roadside bar which is as close to a club as their little town of Devil’s Kettle will ever see. When Jennifer heads to get a drink, Needy overhears the band’s lead singer Nikolai (Adam Brody) talking about Jennifer in a less-than-favourable light. She tries to intervene but Jennifer wants to stick around, so they do. Things go south when the bar catches fire and most of the patrons are burned alive. Jennifer and Needy miraculously escape and are met in the parking lot by Nikolai who takes Jennifer back to the band’s van and drives away. A few hours later, Jennifer shows up at Needy’s house covered in blood. And that’s just the beginning. For the next several weeks, boys in the town of Devil’s Kettle disappear and it isn’t long before Needy finds out that Jennifer is responsible. When nobody believes her — not even her boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons) — she is forced to take matters into her own hands.

Fans have been looking forward to Jennifer’s Body for a couple of reasons. First, Megan Fox, if only because she’s Megan Fox, but also because the movie represents her first performance in a leading role and I’m guessing people are curious if she can pull it off. Second, the movie marks the sophomore effort for writer Diablo Cody who won an Oscar for her first feature film, Juno. But I’ll give you another reason to want to see this movie. Because it’s good fun. In a day where horror movies are more about the gore and the body count, director Karyn Kusama and Diablo Cody have succeeded in creating a movie that represents a return to a simpler time when horror was fun. (I still wouldn’t let my kids see this movie, but I’d prefer they watch a movie like this over something like Halloween 2 or Saw whatever number they’re at now.) Sure, the movie has it’s share of blood, but the gore takes a back seat to the story and the characters. Jennifer’s Body also succeeds in presenting a couple of strong leads in a genre that isn’t exactly known for being kind to its female characters.

Which leads us back to Megan Fox. Did she pull it off? That’s a tough question. Because as much as the characters are central to the success of the movie, playing a character whose sole purpose is to be exude sexual energy and devour any boy who succumbs to your sexual charms isn’t exactly a stretch when you look like Megan Fox. Sexy, yes. Stretch, no. Amanda Seyfried, on the other hand, is given a bit more of a challenge, and she rises to the occasion. Needy is smart and she’s sexy (in her own way). And even though it’s Jennifer’s Body, it’s Needy’s movie.

On the down side, as much as the movie was about the girls, I felt the guys suffered, specifically the character Chip played by Johnny Simmons. He was fine in the role, but I just didn’t buy what happened. Without getting into spoilers, he seems like a smart, albeit naive, guy, but he makes a couple of really dumb decisions late in the movie that, although necessary to forward the plot, seem to contradict everything we saw from his character up to that point.

In the end, Jennifer’s Body has a little bit for everyone. Looking for Megan Fox? Got it. Looking for another smart script from Diablo Cody? Check. Looking for a little blood and guts? Got that too. Looking for some nudity? Sorry to disappoint, but that’s about the only thing you’re not going to find. You will, however, get a kiss between Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried that is worth the price of admission. (Then again, I got into the movie for free so, who am I to say.) The bottom line is that if you’re simply looking to be entertained, you’re probably coming to the right place. If you think you’re getting anything more, you might want to think again. (7.5 out of 10)

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