Scary Movie franchise wearing thin
Movie review
Originally published April 19, 2006
By PAULA OGONOSKI
Today staff
It's official: the Wayans brothers have run out of ideas when it comes to their Scary Movie series.
The pair gave up both writing and directing credits, passing the screenwriting torches to Jim Abrahams (the Naked Gun series) and Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3), and to head honcho David Zucker (also from the Naked Gun series).
This lack of Wayans has made the comedic series more frightening than funny.
Sure, the first three weren't critical masterpieces but they served their purpose: IQ-dropping, giggle-inducing fun entertainment. They were funny parodies of horror movies, but in the latest instalment the puchlines seem to have ran out of steam.
Number four is really quite boring.
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but the Scary Movie films have been a guilty pleasure. They're the flicks you watch after a long week to unwind and giggle in the same way Naked Weapon or Hotshots would make you laugh. But people getting hit in the head is losing its laugh factor.
Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) trades in her broadcaster's microphone to help the elderly. She becomes a live-in caregiver in a mysterious house that's haunted by a little boy. Meanwhile, an alien invasion, launched by the villainous Jigsaw, threatens to destroy the world. Cindy, along with her new love interest, Tom (Craig Bierko), and best friend Brenda (Regina Hall) -- who makes a surprising return after dying in the last film -- must go to a village to solve the mystery of the boy's death and stop the aliens from taking over.
Watch for parodies of The Grudge, The Village, War of the Worlds, Saw and Million Dollar Baby.
While the film overall is a flop, I did enjoy the parody of Tom Cruise's recent infamous appearance on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. While it took little thought to poke fun at his over-the-top expression of love, it was fun to see Bierko bring that back to life.
A cameo by Dr. Phil also creates some chuckles, but they're short-lived and shared with the world's worst acting athlete, Shaquille O'Neal.
Save yourself a few dollars by watching the trailers, which are filled with all the funny bits, or any of the parodied films, all of which are more entertaining than this mess.
Scary Movie 4
Starring: Anna Faris, Craig Bierko
Directed by: David Zucker
Rating: 14A
*1/2 (out of four)
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today
Originally published April 19, 2006
By PAULA OGONOSKI
Today staff
It's official: the Wayans brothers have run out of ideas when it comes to their Scary Movie series.
The pair gave up both writing and directing credits, passing the screenwriting torches to Jim Abrahams (the Naked Gun series) and Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3), and to head honcho David Zucker (also from the Naked Gun series).
This lack of Wayans has made the comedic series more frightening than funny.
Sure, the first three weren't critical masterpieces but they served their purpose: IQ-dropping, giggle-inducing fun entertainment. They were funny parodies of horror movies, but in the latest instalment the puchlines seem to have ran out of steam.
Number four is really quite boring.
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but the Scary Movie films have been a guilty pleasure. They're the flicks you watch after a long week to unwind and giggle in the same way Naked Weapon or Hotshots would make you laugh. But people getting hit in the head is losing its laugh factor.
Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) trades in her broadcaster's microphone to help the elderly. She becomes a live-in caregiver in a mysterious house that's haunted by a little boy. Meanwhile, an alien invasion, launched by the villainous Jigsaw, threatens to destroy the world. Cindy, along with her new love interest, Tom (Craig Bierko), and best friend Brenda (Regina Hall) -- who makes a surprising return after dying in the last film -- must go to a village to solve the mystery of the boy's death and stop the aliens from taking over.
Watch for parodies of The Grudge, The Village, War of the Worlds, Saw and Million Dollar Baby.
While the film overall is a flop, I did enjoy the parody of Tom Cruise's recent infamous appearance on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. While it took little thought to poke fun at his over-the-top expression of love, it was fun to see Bierko bring that back to life.
A cameo by Dr. Phil also creates some chuckles, but they're short-lived and shared with the world's worst acting athlete, Shaquille O'Neal.
Save yourself a few dollars by watching the trailers, which are filled with all the funny bits, or any of the parodied films, all of which are more entertaining than this mess.
Scary Movie 4
Starring: Anna Faris, Craig Bierko
Directed by: David Zucker
Rating: 14A
*1/2 (out of four)
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today
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