Scary Movie (Review 2)
Movie Reviews | Jul 7th, 2000
Starring Anna Faris, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth Wayans, Cheri Oteri Wayans, Carmen Elektra Wayans
Written By: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
Directed By: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Spoofs of slasher horror movies usually don’t work. The reason being that this genre is usually so ridiculous itself, it’s redundant to spoof it. Bad gory effects, cheesy dialog, laughable killers, and predictable plots turn most horror flicks into unintentional laugh fests.
“Scary Movie” somehow manages to spoof its subjects, spoof itself, and spoof the audience, and still be absolutely hilarious. Its predominant punching bags are pretty obvious – Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Blair Witch. But there are also VERY funny references to the Matrix, American Pie, the Usual Suspects, and that “What’s Uuuuuuuup!!” beer commercial (and that skit in the movie which runs about 30 seconds is probably the funniest and most memorable moment in Scary Movie).
The only problem is that you have to have seen these movies or else what’s funny to the guy next to you is seemingly very, very stupid and nonsensical. And that’s probably what makes Scary Movie work so well — It pokes fun at the lack of common sense in horror movies, which is evident at the climax when the killer is revealed.
Another thing in Scary Movie’s favor – which is also its detriment to the PC crowd – is the overt and unnecessary nudity(more male than female, be warned) and the pretty graphic sex gags. Is it a commentary on the sexploitation in horror flicks or is Scary Movie being sexploitative themselves? Regardless, it’s interesting to see American Pie gags be taken to the next, exaggerated level. As with any spoof movie, most will find it derivative and stupid. But hey, if you want an original, excellent story — read a book. If you want to have fun – go see Scary Movie.
Running Time: 90 minutes
Overall Rating:
