S0, I said to Sorsha one day last week, "Um...you wouldn't want to go see that movie Jennifer's Body, by any chance, would you?" and her response was, "YES." We were all set for mockery and derision! What's more fun than a bad horror movie at almost-Halloween? But, you guys! It's actually a really good movie! We were stunned!
I don't like Diablo Cody much. I pretty much disliked Juno and don't watch her show. I find her column in Entertainment Weekly annoying. But I really liked Jennifer's Body and her script is a large part of why. Some of her pop culture references grated like they did in Juno but not as badly. I found the movie to be an interesting somewhat-deconstruction of horror movies with a feminist bent. Seriously, they should show Jennifer' Body in a double feature with Teeth for cautionary tales of what happens when you fuck with girls.
My only opinion of Megan Fox going into the movie was 1. She's very pretty 2. Shut the fuck up about her. I despised the first Transformers movie and obviously wasn't going to bother with the sequel. Which, from what I heard, was right choice. (19%? Ouch!) But Fox is really good in Jennifer's Body! Her character, the titular Jennifer (See what I did there?) is possibly a demon or something. She hits just the right balance between vapid teenage girl and you know, boy-eating demon. (I'm not spoiling you for anything that wasn't in the trailer, calm down.) It's a very fun performance. And my GOD, is she pretty. Like, stupidly pretty.
I already adored Amanda Seyfried. She was Lilly Kane! She's very, very good as Jennifer's geeky, put-upon best friend, Needy. She suspects something's...amiss with her best friend early on in the game but doesn't fly into action until her cute boyfriend Chip* is threatened. To either be eaten or stolen. You know, either way. Seyfriend is also extremely pretty. Though that raspberry-colored prom dress HAS to go, ok?
But my very, very favorite performance in the movie? Comes from Adam Brody as the douchebag, wanna-be rock star who starts all this shit. He was HILARIOUS. Why doesn't he get more roles? He's very likeable. And looks hot in eyeliner.
Anyway, Jennifer's Body isn't really that scary. It's got a few creepy moments and jump-out-at-you scares and it's plenty gory. But it's really more funny. Sorsha and I laughed hysterically for most of the movie and I almost spit out my Coke at one point. I wish IMDB had more memorable quotes listed because there were PLENTY and I'd like to giggle at them at my leisure. Though there is one scene with Jennifer flashing a slow, creepy smile right into the camera that had me flinching back. Well done, Ms. Fox. Well done!
The negative reviews that the movie is recieving are pissing me off. Most of them seem to totally miss the point of the movie and to be like, offended by its existence. Which, ok, way to overreact. I think the problem is partially Cody and Fox, two over-exposed personalities, to be sure. But they're really good here! Give them a chance! Also, sorry, but I chalk a lot of it up to sexism. Sexist assholes who just want to dismiss any work by women. And this is a movie written, directed and mostly starring women. Oh, I'm sorry. Are women talking here? Are we BOTHERING YOU? Are we getting our GIRLINESS all over your HORROR MOVIES? SORRY. Except not really.
Ahem. That was a bit tedious. Anyway, go see Jennifer's Body. It's a good time.
*Ha, I was reading Roger Ebert's review of the movie and he was all, "Of course Chip's a good guy. His name is Chip Dove. Who would name a bad guy Chip Dove?" HA. Um, John Irving would. And did. That made me giggle.
Monday, September 28, 2009
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3 comments:
1. I keep waiting for Adam Brody to make his big mainstream breakthrough. I WANT TO GO SEE HIM IN EVERYTHING. I SAT THROUGH SOME STUPID MEG RYAN MOVIE FOR HIM, OKAY? ADAM, GO MAKE LOTS OF FUN MOVIES IN WHICH YOU CAN BE SNIDE AND ADORABLE. MAKE THEM WITH ED WESTWICK, I WOULD ENJOY THAT.
2. What's up with men and their girl-hating?
I for one appreciate a movie with competent, intelligent, strong women. I get really tired of the "cliché" helpless screaming bimbos. That's why I liked the re-make of "Night of the Living Dead", the "Resident Evil" trilogy, "The Long Kiss Goodbye", etc. I'll take a broad that isn't afraid of the zombie apocalypse any day over some helpless, worthless piece of eye candy.
OMG! I have told EVERYONE to go see this flick. That bloody smile scene with them in the kitchen totally changed my view of Fox for a minute. It was better than expected...better than it deserved to be. I will own it and mock it for years to come. heheheheheheh!
Volstaag, I agree to a certain extent. I like my strong chicks in a horror flick that can survive a robot or zombie attack, but I do so like the mockery of the idiot bimbos that go to the door when they hear a "strange sound." They are a cautionary tale and I make the most of their stupidness...usually by laughing uncontrolably after yelling at the screen.
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