Fox bites in new film

“Jennifer’s Body,” the latest film from “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody, is a film with no qualms about its identity.  It is a darkly-comedic horror film that knows exactly what it’s doing.  Centered on Jennifer Check (Megan Fox), a high school student who turns into a man-eating monster, the film is full of classic horror movie devices: creepy nighttime shots, scenes where you want to shout “what are you doing? That’s stupid!,” evil rock bands and gratuitous cleavage with attention to the female form. 

While Cody’s trademark sarcastic humor sometimes feels out of place in the darker themes of the movie and the characters’ made-up slang sometimes snags, the true-to-its-horror-movie-roots feeling still makes for an entertaining experience.  Viewers who remember Amanda Seyfried as the dumb blond Karen in “Mean Girls” will be surprised by her performance as Anita “Needy” Lesnicky.  Seyfried plays the part of the traumatized heroine who can’t get anyone to believe her. 

While it’s probably not going to win any Oscars and many may call the film stupid, its other qualities should keep most audience members interested, if for no other reason than to stare at Megan Fox’s generous cleavage. 

“Jennifer’s Body” is a movie that begs thequestion: is it simply stupid, or so stupid that it’s brilliant?  Viewers will have to make up their minds.