“Scary Movie 4” is without a doubt the worst movie of the year. Bar none.
Almost six years have passed since the first movie in the franchise was released and it was easy to understand why the movie was successful. Its fresh and comical aspects appealed to teens and adults.
The first movie balanced spoofing already ridiculous Hollywood blockbusters, while remaining smart. This feat was managed with much credit due to the Wayans brothers who wrote, directed and starred in the first movie.
Although Keenan Ivory Wayans didn’t direct “Scary Movie 3” or “Scary Movie 4,” Marlon and Shawn still appeared and kept the laughs and success going.
The fourth movie fails to capture the formula that attracted fans to the first two movies.
Anna Farris returns for her fourth time as Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall returns for her third go around as the sexually- charged Brenda Meeks.
The weight of the entire movie is placed on these two alumnae, even though a vast majority of the previous installment returns.
Opening the film are two unlikely co-stars: Shaquille O’Neal and Dr. Phil McGraw. The most entertaining scene is a spoof of the dungeon room challenge of life or death from the popular film “Saw.”
The poor acting can be forgiven for the duration of the flick. Since it is about spoofing, the level of cheese is acceptable.
The movie’s spoofs are easy to recognize and add to the enjoyment. “War of the Worlds” (mashed with “8 Mile”), “The Village,” “The Grudge” and “Saw” are all reference points of the movie. Oscar-winning movies, “Million Dollar Baby,” “Brokeback Mountain” and “Hustle and Flow” also fall victim in a few hilarious flashbacks.
The movie flows better in this installment. The third film suffered a great deal by losing its organization.
The movie’s gross-out humor is at times nauseating and offers the audience a side of Leslie Nielsen that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Keeping in the spirit of further exploiting Tom Cruise’s antics, the infamous Oprah moment is staged as well as Mike Tyson in drag, making light of his taste for skin.
A low in the film occurs with an attempt to spoof “Fahrenheit 9/11.” The movie makes a tasteless satire of President Bush’s reaction in a classroom full of kids. It was an insensitive attempt to prove that no movie nor situation is off limits.
The biggest disappointment of the flick is in director David Zucker and screeenplay writer Jim Abrahams, who virtually invented the spoof genre with the 1980 classic “Airplane!” The only magic they bring to this franchise is Leslie Neilson, who isn’t that magical anymore, just naked.
“Scary Movie 4” is a weak attempt to prolong a franchise that has lost its edge.
