SCARY MOVIE 2

reviewed by: ReelReviewz@aol.com

MOVIE BIASES: We know it's not scary, and it was rushed into production so fast, it's barely a movie. But can it be funnier than the first? MAJOR PLAYERS: The Wayanses (Scary Movie), Regina Hall (Scary Movie), Tim Curry (Hunt for Red October), and director Keenan Ivory Wayans (Scary Movie).

Since INo sequel, huh? Well, this wouldn't be the first time Hollywood lied to us. Riding the shocking success of the first "Scary Movie," "Scary Movie 2" risks spoofing itself by sequeling a movie about horror movies and their half-baked sequels. Despite jam-packed crowds on the Fourth to see this movie, "Scary 2" is left running behind the bus of the all but dead gross-out genre that has left it in the dust.

Milo Plot? We don't need no stinkin' plot! With no less than seven credited writers and some ten credited producers, the best "Scary 2" could come up with is this: A house haunted by a poltergeist is the open laboratory for a sexually charged professor (Curry) to run a little experiment on fear to draw out the spirits in the house. His lab rats? The usual suspects: homoerotic Ray (Shawn Wayans), the perpetually high Shorty (Marlon Wayans), ghetto fabulous Brenda (Hall), and sweet, stupid, unhip Cindy (Anna Faris) among others.

Not much plot there? Now you get the picture. Not much acting, either. In the spoof genre, I don't think we tune in to see great monologues of Shakespearian depth. We tune in to see how low the Wayanses & Company can go. They go to the flo' with it. As far as the tagline from their movie goes ("More shameless"), they definitely have achieved that. This movie, at best, is a collection of disjointed vignettes that don't resemble anything of a plot at all. If you revel in endless toilet humor (which I do not), then this movie is for you.

Another hallmark of the last "Scary Movie" was the pop culture and movies it spoofed. This time around targets include "Save the Last Dance," "Titanic," "Hollow Man," "Weakest Link," "Twister," "Hannibal," "Charlie's Angels," "What Lies Beneath," "Poltergeist," Nike basketball commercials, John Woo movies, Firestone tires, and "Scary Movie" itself. The creators also miss no opportunity to make a ridiculous, gratuitous sexual prank, either. Unfortunately, this movie, one that's as culturally relevant as owning a dot-com, isn't even as funny as the first one. It's more gross, but not nearly as funny.

What is most disturbing about this movie is that, despite alleged efforts not to be marketing to the teen market that gave it its off-the-charts $42 million opening weekend a year ago, still, the theater I was at was packed with kids, a lot of whom couldn't get some of the jokes (the jokes aren't that sophisticated; they just don't know about stuff like tampons yet - and don't need to). I'm mad at the parents who drag their ten and twelve year old to see crap like this. It's bad enough that I'm 20-something and don't need to see crap like this; a twelve year old shouldn't be exposed to this, either. And I'm not even talking about the sexual, gross out, and profane humor. I'm talking about the obvious lack of plotting, characterization, dialogue, and, well, genuine humor. Now THAT'S scary.

@@ REELS (TWO REELS) Extra medium.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

© 2001, THE REEL DEAL