Movies: Jennifer’s Body

Starring the Transformers biker babe, Megan Fox, Jennifer’s body feels like a sex and death fantasy with an unusual twist of teenage angst and humor thrown in. The movie itself, produced by Juno’s Jason Reitman, is a combination of myth, legends, and the slight suspense that sits on the edge of its sexual power. That being said, the smart and funny drama may not be as hot as it’s made out to be in the trailers as it is a fabrication of folklore. Still, there’s something to be said about watching a high school senior, filled with the lust for sexual power, eat her way through guys scene after scene.

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The first time we meet Jennifer and her best friend, Needy(Amanda Seyfried), they’re getting dressed up to check out a new indie band named Low Shoulder at the local bar. Thinking like a typical 17-year old, Jennifer wants to sleep with the lead singer because he seems like a cute big-city dude, and by sleeping with him, she expects to feel like a hot big-city girl. Despite the fact that the band doesn’t have much status, other than possibly doing hair commercials, Jennifer is set on spending a night with the singer in guyliner(Adam Brody).

The best friend duo make it to the bar, Needy unconciously making Jennifer look better with her plain vibe and wardrobe. Just as Jennifer makes her move on the band, the local drive bar catches on fire. In all the confusion that engulfs the bar as some friends burn to a crisp, Jennifer is thrust into the band’s creepy Econoline van. In the tough world of music where it’s difficult to make a name for yourself, the band turns to ritualistic murders in the hopes that satanic intervention will allow them to climb the ladder of success, thus, rendering Jennifer into eternal damnation.

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As Jennifer tries to go back into her life as a normal teenager, it’s Needy who notices the new, evil changes in her best friend, namely the dark black fluid that gushes through her mouth and the unfortunate death of boys that she has dated. Like other results of most forbidden rituals, Jennifer has become a minion of Satan having to feed off human flesh to keep the demon inside her satisfied, and her body flawless. The best friend relationship that the two previously harbored changes into that of the monster and its babysitter; Needy trying to stop Jennifer from devouring anymore of her male classmates, or at least, her own boyfriend(Johnny Simmons).

Despite the plot of the story being more than interesting, the movie itself lacks enough thrills and the reality that Cody’s humor drips lazily from Fox’s mouth doesn’t make it any better. There is still credit due here to writer Diablo Cody and Director Karyn Kusama, for the world of estranged teens is not easy to condense and capture. Jennifer’s Body falls prey to its very expectations.