Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Jennifer's Body


My sister and I saw Jennifer's Body last Thursday (midnight showing at the Arclight in Hollywood). I was really excited to see it. I love campy, cheesy, funny horror with gobs and gobs of blood and gore. Reality, alas, did not live up to my expectations.

Here is the summary from IMDB.com:
Nerdy, reserved bookworm Needy and arrogant, conceited cheerleader Jennifer are best friends, though they share little in common. They share even less in common when Jennifer mysteriously gains an appetite for human blood after a disastrous fire at a local bar. As Needy's male classmates are steadily killed off in gruesome attacks, the young girl must uncover the truth behind her friend's transformation and find a way to stop the bloodthirsty rampage before it reaches her own boyfriend Chip.

The film was ok, but I had much higher expectations. The dialog was insipid and extremely pleased with itself. It nauseatingly basked in its own clever juices. I was laughing mostly because I couldn't believe that certain piece of dialog had made it into the movie. Real teenagers would not be caught dead speaking like that.

As Fangoria points out, any hot actress could be interchanged in the title role. Jennifer before and after the demonic possession really didn't act any different apart from eating males from her class. I don't know if I'm supposed to feel sorry for her, but I definitely didn't. The character is brainless and bland.

I have no idea why this movie is rated R. There really isn't very much blood (which made me sad) and there is no nudity (much to many a fanboy's chagrin). There is an extremely gratuitous kiss between the two female leads that didn't actually mean anything at all. If you're going to have a kiss like that, at least let it have further implications in the film somewhere.

Overall, the film was disappointing. I read the accompanying graphic novel, which gave the back stories of all the boys that were killed and the events leading up to their deaths. I really liked it and couldn't wait for the movie afterwards. I think the biggest failing of the film was the dialog written by Diablo Cody. I hope Breathers: A Zombie's Lament based on the S.G. Browne novel is better.

6 comments:

Zombie Girrrl said...

Breathers is getting a movie??? I'm not much for horror flicks, but I'll have to see that one! I just hope it doesn't make me puke, the book came close when they pulled out the "finger food". I was good up till that point, then it was like all the gore caught up with me and I had to go read something lighter for a day before I could finish. It was really good, though. :)

Heather G. said...

Interesting...not a big gory horror fan, but I'm sorry you didn't like it. I hope your next one is way better!

titania86 said...

@Zombie Girrl: Yes!!!! It doesn't have a release date yet or any actors attached. I know Diablo Cody is doing the writing. It probably won't be as gory as the book just because of the MPAA.

@hmsgofita: Me too. :)

Zombie Girrrl said...

*pumps fist like complete dork* :9

Misty said...

I intend to see this and review it for the Challenge. I don't have high hopes, but I can't not see it, it's too perfect. I think I will link to your review when I do. Too funny.
I especially like "The dialog was insipid and extremely pleased with itself. It nauseatingly basked in its own clever juices." That made my day.

titania86 said...

Misty, thanks. I thought hard about that phrase because I wanted to convey how hard they were trying and how icky it made me feel. You're comment made my day too. :)