'Jennifer's Body' proves more Juno than jarring

Mark Trammell, Contributor
Published On: 09/21/2009

The follow-up to Diablo Cody’s Academy Award-winning screenplay “Juno,” “Jennifer’s Body” certainly has an intriguing premise.

The fun begins when Jennifer (Megan Fox) goes along for a ride with a sleazy emo band led by none other than Seth Cohen himself, Adam Brody, late of “The O.C.”

Wanting to be superstars like Maroon 5, the band does the obvious—a virgin sacrifice.

Problem is, Jennifer’s no virgin. So, thanks to a slutty reprieve, Jennifer gets revived by a cannibalistic demon.

I know, I know. That old plot again. The only one wary of the sitch is her best pal, the none-too-subtly named Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried, in the Hollywood-patented hot nerd role.

Of course, no one believes her, even her sweetheart of a boyfriend, Chip (Johnny Simmons, of “Evan Almighty”).

“Jennifer’s Body” is fun to a point, but one can’t help but long for a bit more than “Juno” as a horror flick, which is basically what we’ve got here. Albeit, with a healthy dash of “Heathers” for good measure, but not enough “Carrie” for my tastes.

This would be no big deal if the feminist aspect was played a bit more effectively, but after a promising beginning, no dice.

It would have been great had the film used Jennifer’s condition to highlight the power women have over men, especially in the highly-charged atmosphere of high school, but the film rarely goes there, instead opting for mostly Cody’s patented “Juno speak.”

There is an admittedly priceless — and surprisingly realistic — teen sex scene, with an amusing climax, pun definitely intended. As it stands, Jennifer only kills a few boys before predictably going after Needy’s boy toy.

Director Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight,” “Aeon Flux”) redeems herself somewhat. Cody gets off some great lines but not much else. And Fox, in her first major leading role, does show some actual wit and skill, despite having only been given one note to work with: snarky.

Seyfried (“Mean Girls,” “Big Love”) is excellent, and the one person here who creates a truly well-rounded and fully-realized character. You really care about her and feel her pain, even if you wonder why she’s friends with the self-involved Jennifer in the first place.

Still, there’s enough here worth seeing to recommend it, albeit barely — it’s certainly beats yet another remake, sequel or remake of a sequel.

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