DVD Reviews

Jennifer’s Body – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Dec 31, 2009, 14:02 GMT

Sexy temptress Megan Fox is hotter than hell as Jennifer, a gorgeous, seductive cheerleader who takes evil to a whole new level after she\'s possessed by a sinister demon. Steamy action and gore galore ensue as the male student body succumbs to Jennifer\'s insatiable appetite for human flesh. Now it\'s up to her best friend (Amanda Seyfried) to stop Jennifer\'s reign of terror before it\'s too late! ...more

“Am I too big?”  Honest to blog, much was expected of Diablo Cody’s follow-up to Juno.  The results are a film that might’ve felt more at home in 1989 than 2009.  If it were not for the references to cell phone, etc. I though it could’ve been a period piece and may have worked better as one.  

Jennifer (Megan Fox) is the hot girl at school that everyone with testosterone lusts after.  Her BFF (best friend forever) is “Needy” (Amanda Seyfried), a girl who lives up to her nickname since she has a need to keep their friendship though Jennifer seems to be using Needy. 

Jennifer convinces Needy to go with her to see an indie band at a local bar.  The bandleader (Adam Brody) seems to take an uncommon interest in Jennifer and the subject of her virginity.  During their set, Jennifer seems to be in a trance.  Needy notices that a flame erupts and sets the bar alight, but she gets herself and Jennifer out of the bar unharmed.  Jennifer still seems to be under a spell and leaves with the band in their creepy van. 

Needy is worried about her friend and calls her boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons) when she’s worried that someone is in the house with her.  She hangs up with him thinking it’s just her imagination when the bloodied and bruised Jennifer appears.  She barfs a vile, black liquid on her linoleum, smiles, and dashes away. 

Jennifer seems fine at school the next day and her old self, but she’s developed an appetite for the boys… literally.  Not high school evil, but real evil.  

It seemed like a project that was destined for success.  Jennifer’s Body had a lot going for it.  A hot screenwriter, a hot star, and a provocative title, however, the results were more of a box office fizzle than boshizzle.  I guess Diablo should’ve sacrificed a virgin for continuing success.  Maybe she couldn’t find one. 

In this outing her hip dialogue sounded forced and just doesn’t have the ring it did in Juno.  Maybe it’s the delivery.  Seyfried makes the best of it, but Fox really doesn’t add much to Jennifer.  She may be the “star” of the film but more screen time is given to Seyfried and that’s a good thing. 

Fox saying Cody’s lines really don’t amount to much.  I’m not sure if its Fox’s delivery or my not being so hot for Diablo’s hipster talk this time around.  It certainly sounded new and fresh in Juno.  I can’t say the same here.  It’s not much of a sophomore effort from either party.  

Jennifer’s Body is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  The film is presented in both the theatrical cut (102 minutes) and the extended cut (107 minutes). 

Special features include a commentary by director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the theatrical cut.  The extended cut has a commentary by Kusama, but it totals about 30 minutes of scenes and just covers the differences between the cuts.    There are also trailers for other Fox products.  

Jennifer’s Body might be nice to look at but there’s nothing there.  She’s shallow and her beauty is only skin deep.  That and you’ll just end up with your intestines hanging out and that’s not a nice way to go.  

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