film: review

> SCARY MOVIE 3 (2003)
This Scary outing entertains about as much as a decent episode of SNL.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Anna Faris, Charlie Sheen, Jenny McCarthy, Pamela Anderson, and lots more

Directed by: David Zucker

Written by: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans & more

Genre: Comedy

Our Rating: 4.5/10

Anna Faris (now a blonde) returns in Scary Movie 3, the latest entry in the film series which made Shawn and Marlon Wayans filthy rich. So rich, in fact, that they have decided to write themselves out of the storyline and watch the dollars roll in. I believe Ms. Faris is the sole recurring character to have endured each of the three movies. Wisely, SM3 no longer features the killer from Scream (a wise choice) as its villain. In this turn, the equally air-headed cast of characters tackles such subjects as killer videotapes, aliens, the King of Pop, Playboy superstars, underground rap battles, and apparently a strong dislike of children.

So how do you possibly construct a story around a movie that’s purpose is to cram as many spoofs of recent Hollywood hits as possible into it? Well, basically, you don’t. I’d like to recommend Miramax rename the series “Scary Sketches” because Scary Movie 3 isn’t so much a movie, as it is a modern day episode of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” or “Saturday Night Live”. And the majority of the gags aren’t even poking fun of scary movies anymore, but pop icons and anything else popular (Matrix again, 8 Mile, Pamela Anderson’s sex tape, priests molesting children). The series wants to be the new National Lampoon, but I for one don’t ever see it getting there.

OK, all gripes aside, the movie did provide some good laughs in places. Some hit, some fell flat. It seems like they had four or five solid gags and built the film from there. And it was nice to see Pam and Jen in the opening. Unfortunately, aside from the stuff you have seen in the trailers and a few other funny moments, the rest of the film could be scrapped, because it’s not like the story was really going anywhere anyways (I think the whole 8 Mile component was one too many). The Wayans Brothers and Miramax have definitely cashed into this one and with Scary Movie 4 next year they are definitely far into the “milking it” category. I don’t think I want to see another one of their sketch films, with a couple hilarious ideas, stretched into a full-length movie. This all means one thing: time to revitalize “In Living Color”!!!

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theater on Peach Street in Erie, PA.

(03-1028)

related links:
Scary Movie 3 - official site

MPAA rating: PG-13
For pervasive crude & sexual humor, language, comic violence & drug references

length: 90 minutes