A film review by Rachael Vice Copyright © 2001 Rachael Vice

'SCARY MOVIE' was the original title for the SCREAM trilogy, which was originally mapped as a spoof for the horror genre. After the various teen-slasher flicks, SCARY MOVIE rose with controversial parodies of the SCREAM movies, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, etc.. So, technically SCARY MOVIE was a spoof of a spoof, making SCARY MOVIE 2 the sequel to the spoof of a spoof. What the hell is going on with Hollywood?

SCARY MOVIE and its sequel really cannot be analyzed as far as storyline goes.   NEWSFLASH!   It's a comedic parody, not a historical drama. Ironically, the two spoofs actually have better plots than some of the movies they recreate. No titles mentioned...

SCARY MOVIE 2 follows four of the same 'victimized' teens from the original. Two of them were actually killed in the original yet *somehow* they return. However, this time the group must face a possessed house instead of a crazed killer and the film goofs the classic terrors rather than the more recent teen-targeted scare flicks.

The, I believe, 7 writers of SCARY MOVIE 2 should have steered clear from comedizing such films as THE EXORCIST and THE AMITTYVILLE HORROR. One of the reasons SCARY MOVIE was so funny was because it made fun of films that were somewhat funny already. (Let's face it, there were scenes in SCREAM, IKWYDLS, URBAN LEGEND, etc. that made you laugh at the characters and call them names for being such idiots). Also, the film spoofs movies that are decades old. Quite a few people haven't even seen some of the classic horror films, and those that did all those years ago have probably forgotten all the kinky details.

Some of the scenes were so childishly idiotic and insanely stupid you're left pondering why it was even in the movie. Perhaps it was to kill time to lengthen the film into the short 80 or so minutes that it already was.

Obviously, SCARY MOVIE 2 had its laughs. My favorite parts: the opening with old timer's singing rap artist Mystikal's "Shake it Fast", the Calista Flockhart crack and the "cute little" bird. I don't think it's been even a year since SCARY MOVIE hit theaters. If more time was spent on the writing then the Wayans' could make some pretty funny movies.

On a lighter note, hats off to Anna Faris. Ignoring that direct-to-video cheap slasher flick LOVER'S LANE, she's a great actress. She fits very well into comedies when it comes to being the innocent and gullible victim. Perhaps one day she'll appear in something a few steps above SCARY MOVIE 2.

Final Rating:  * *  of  * * * *

	Running Time: 82 Min | Rated: R | US Release: July 4th | More >>

Related Links:

• Official Site
• Upcomingmovies.com: Scary Movie 2