Scary Movie (2000) - Movie Review

Written by: Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg, Buddy Johnson, Aaron Seltzer, Marlon Wayans & Shawn Wayans
Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Starring: Anna Faris, Jon Abrahams, Shawn Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Dave Sheridan

My Advice: Matinee

Life has gone a little nuts at B.A. Corpse High School. It seems that a young lady by the name of Drew (Carmen Electra) has been murdered. Now news vulture Gail (Cheri Oteri), author of You're Dead, I'm Rich is all over the place, stoner Randy (Marlon Wayans) is wondering where the hell he is, and Cindy (Faris) wondering if everything might be connected to a little automotive incident they all had a year previous. Then there's guy with a scary mask running around with a knife, hmmm....

Sound familiar? Yes, it's true. After so many teen slasher flicks flying around the past few years, it was only a matter of time before somebody decided to attempt a spoof--let's just thank the gods that the Wayans Brothers got to it before Mel Brooks or Leslie Nielsen. Because let's face it--the original Scream film was a spoof of an entire genre--is it possible to effectively spoof a spoof? The answer is, thankfully, yes.

Let me sum it up thusly: I almost wet myself, I was laughing so hard. There hasn't been a film so wrong that yet managed to be nutbustingly funny since Baseketball. It is certainly wrong, though. Every wicked thing that you'll hate yourself for laughing at is in this one, so much so that I'm amazed it skirted past the MPAA with an R rating. It's a film without a very tight story to hold it together, but considering the source material, how much is really necessary? And speaking of source material, I would definitely recommend a bit of knowledge of the teen slasher genre before going to check this out. Without being familiar with Scream, a ridiculously funny garage door joke won't work. Without knowing Nightmare on Elm Street, a...um...geyser gag is just crude.

The actors involved are pretty much just going with the flow of the satire, although a few deserve mention. Anna Faris is doing the Neve Campbell/Jennifer Love Hewitt bit dead-on, and takes a beating pretty well. (It makes sense when you see it, just trust me.) Marlon Wayans' Shorty character is a lot like Randy from the Scream franchise, but, well, black and high as a fricking kite. His Sixth Sense parody scene is only the beginning of his great schtick. Finally, Dave Sheridan, who plays Doofy, is funny even without the vacuum cleaner. (Again, just trust me.)

Bottom line, if you like the horror genre or the teen slasher genre, it's a must see. But you've been warned, it's not for the faint of heart. There were moments when even the Widgeman was taken aback--and that's a stunt in itself. In fact, after one scene, I swore I had gone blind. But nonetheless, if you're up for the challenge, you will be rewarded.