Student Body Most Bloody ~ A Movie Review of ‘Jennifer’s Body’

Let me just say upfront, any film that utilizes the great Amy Sedaris really can’t go wrong.  I loved this film for all the reasons that possibly other critics do not – it is a totally chick flick horror film.  What else could it be with a woman director, a screenplay by a woman, and the two lead characters with va-jay-jays?  Rightly or wrongly, mostly wrongly in my opinion, this movie has been overshadowed by the idea that it is the only make or break film for Meagan Fox since starring in that blockbuster Michael Bay mess, ‘Transformers: Stupid Robot Trucks Fight at the Gaza Pyramids.’  Yes, I get it, some folks have Meagan Fox issues because she is young and beautiful and has opened her mouth too many times showing that she has opinions about the world around her which were not pre-approved by a certain ego-fest-nest director who didn’t appreciate that she understood that the ‘Transformers’ film was as inspiring as cat sick.  Sometimes dude, the truth hurts.

                Although there will be no talk of Fox winning an Oscar for her performance as a high school flag twirler with a slutty reputation (of whom I find it astonishing that the audience was supposed to believe that members of some two-bit indie band would take her for a virgin – even those guys aren’t normally so stupid) she did a fine enough job.  The fact that you couldn’t necessarily see the seams in her acting, think when reality stars are cast in movies for Lifetime, is reason enough to applaud her performance.  Amanda Seyfried did her usual superb job as she quickly, but quietly, makes her way up the Hollywood food chain.  J.K. Simmons almost had me falling out of my seat as the one armed (with hook) Mr. Wroblewski, the most understanding teacher at school. 

                Although ‘Jennifer’s Body’ is technically a horror film, it is also humorous, albeit not technically falling into the category of comedy.  I know that Diablo Cody had to stomp through a mile high pile of B.S. because she won so much praise for her freshman outing as a screenwriter with ‘Juno’ but the woman has talent and that alone should just shut the haters up (or at least tune it down a few levels).  I know her material might not be for everyone but she appeals to a wide base and I wish the chronically annoyed screenwriters who are only talented in their own minds would stop reminding the world that Cody was once a stripper.  Listen dudes, we live in America and one of the many great things about living here is that our civilization believes in second acts…chapter one she was a stripper, chapter two she was a screenwriter, chapter three she has moved on and you guys are still talking about how she showed her boobies for a living.  Okay, I’m done with my day’s soapbox rant. 

                I liked this movie.  Granted it is violent and erotic so it doesn’t make for a good family outing film, but if you were going to take the fam to a film called ‘Jennifer’s Body’ chances are that you aren’t the biggest Pixar fan.  I thought the setting of the movie, Devil’s Kettle, was a great name for a small town named in honor of the local waterfall/whirlpool combination.  I even enjoyed the costuming with its ode to small town tackiness and prom dresses styles that never die although they should.  ‘Jennifer’s Body’ is a fun film, which is perfect for this time of year with Halloween a month away.  I’m sure that it will also make for a good DVD and cable viewing as well.  I even predict that in a decade or so it will have a cult following.

Westerfield © 2009