Scary Movie 3 PG-13, 90m Starring: Anna Faris, Charlie Sheen, Simon Rex, and Leslie Nielson Directed by David Zucker Release Date: Oct. 24
3 / 4 stars
Capping the "Scary Movie" trilogy with a third installment seems at first like another pointless attempt to stretch a popular franchise for all it's worth, but this time the gross-out antics of the Wayans brothers are left behind. With director David Zucker, who worked on older spoof films such as "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun," at the helm this latest "Scary Movie" remains fresh by focusing on slapstick and dumb jokes, as opposed to gross-outs or strong sexual material.
The plot intertwines parodies "The Ring," "Signs," "8 Mile," "The Others" and "The Matrix: Reloaded," however only two of those films could really be considered "scary" (unless you count that frightening "I'm A Slave 4 U" rave scene from "Matrix").
Cindy (Anna Faris) is an aspiring newswoman and she breaks the story of mysterious crop circles discovered in the fields of farmer Tom (Charlie Sheen) while Cindy also discovers seemingly unrelated deaths due to a mysterious videotape. The impressive supporting cast provides funny additions, especially Anthony Anderson as rap battle host Mahalik. Simon Rex is also funny as the wannabe white emcee whose only dream is "to have a dream." Leslie Nielson is good as the bumbling president, however, the late Lloyd Bridges played the role better in "Hot Shots: Part Deux."
"Scary Movie 3" moves the plot along with a slew of cameos and appearances by various actors and musicians. George Carlin appears, making fun of the verbose architect from "The Matrix: Reloaded" while Method Man, Redman, Master P and Macy Gray roll up on big rims to battle aliens.
Anna Faris performs well, as usual, as her ditzy character Cindy who also starred in the other movies in the series. However, Faris' face is one of the few connections to the preceding "Scary Movie" films. Charlie Sheen plays a farmer spoofing Mel Gibson's character from M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs." Zucker pokes fun at Shyamalan, mocking his constant dizzying camera movements from "Signs," as the characters in "Scary Movie 3" get dizzy themselves.
"Scary Movie 3" finds it audience in a blend of referential humor, incorporating many allusions to the films it lampoons, and poking fun at hip-hop culture. Unfortunately, most of the big gags, like the Michael Jackson spoof of "The Others," Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson as Catholic schoolgirls parodying the opening of "The Ring," and the "8 Mile" inspired freestyle battle are all in the trailer, so it feels old. Still, "Scary Movie 3" will provide laughs for those with an affinity for spoof films.
