Scary Movie 4-Beware Brokeback Mountain Parodies Contained Within
Clearly Scary Movie 4 (yes 4) falls into the “turn off your brain, set back and let some endorphins flow.” If you go to any of the Scary Movie flicks looking for enlightenment or to have your war weary heart touched, then lets face it, you’re scary than anything in all the Scary Movies put together. Obviously, by now you should know what you are getting yourself into and with that in mind Scary Movie 4 simply works.
Scary Movie follows the time, and box-office tested, formula of its predecessors in smacking around numerous Hollywood films. Usually, this ripfest centers on horror and sci-fi films, such as War of the Worlds and Saw, but director David Zucker takes a pleasant jab at the over inflated uber-ego of Nightshade rammalamadigdong’s The Village, which is nicely spoofed as well. The simple genius of the film is to highlight the impressive array of logic errors abundant in so many major releases and it does it well.
The acting overall is solid. Anna Faris and Carman Electra are quite entertaining. Yes, you actual read that, it is print, even if it is “only on the Internet,” but its true Carman Electra puts in a solid performance.
In terms of how the film could be improved, there is one pretty straight-forward way, director David Zucker actually went too easy on our good Mr. Cruise. There was ample opportunity to hit Cruise way harder than he did. Far too much restraint Mr. Zucker...yes it is easy, perhaps too easy, but I would argue that so is nearly every joke in the film. Ah, but it works, just next time in Scary Movie 5 or 6 or 7 or 8, truly go all the way with it.
Story c (This grade is more for the amalgamation of other movie’s plot lines than creation of its own unique plot line, but that is the nature of this particular beast.)
Acting B
Visuals C (Not much thought to camera movement, which probably reflects the fact that Scary Movie 4 did not have enough number of days for the shoot, but some better than expected CG with the Tripods from War of the Worlds evens it out.)
Originality/Innovation C
Enjoyability Grade B-/C- (This is a B- only if you are not a snob and are looking for a laugh, otherwise you’re looking at a C-. If you are a snob the Brokeback Mountain parodies may offend but will serve you well at your Book Club meeting.)
Overall Grade C+
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