We know she has breasts, though the unveiling of their full bared glory remains, teasingly, for the future. We know she likes to kiss boys and girls. We know she has a face to die for, as several unlucky victims discovered this weekend in Jennifer's Body. But can Megan Fox act?
Cast in her first lead role as iconic small-town cheerleader Jennifer, Fox certainly sashays well. As directed by Karyn Kusama, Fox looks terrific in slow motion, walking down a high school hallway like it was a catwalk, or emerging from a refreshing skinny dip, smiling secretly because she knows all eyes are upon her. Her lips and tongue look very kissable in extreme close-up. Even when she looks "bad," it's still better than most could hope for, as her ostensible BFF Needy (Amanda Seyfried) observes. When called upon to emote, however, Fox says lines -- scripted by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody -- without any deep conviction or sincerity, as though she were a TV spokesperson introducing a commercial break: "We'll be right back after these important messages!" Even when her character is involved in life-and-death struggles, she comes across as breathy and vapid, drawing less upon her soul and more upon presenting her best angle to the camera. I think her co-star Amanda Seyfried blows her off the screen.
But that's just my opinion. (Cinematical's Jenni Miller has a different opinion of the movie, while our reviewer Todd Gilchrist called her "fanboy catnip," which seems about right.) What do you think? Can Megan Fox act her way out of a paper bag? Or has she just gotten an unfair rap because of her beauty and outspoken behavior? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments!
