Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans | 79 minutes | comedy, horror | Actors: James Woods, Tim Curry, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, Kathleen Robertson, Chris Elliott, Tori Spelling, James DeBello, David Cross, Regina Hall, Christopher Masterson, Andy Richter, Natasha Lyonne, Veronica Cartwright, Tim Curry

Do you always laugh so hard at oral sex, silicone tits and body fluids? Yes? Well then you can’t miss this ‘Scary Movie 2’! Those blessed with an IQ higher than a snail’s should pass up this tinkering from the Wayans brothers. Rarely has a comedy been released that was more blunt, raunchy and above all so painfully unpleasant than this ‘Scary Movie 2’.

‘Scary Movie 2’ presents itself as a ‘spoof’, ie as a parodying film that ridicules other Hollywood productions. For example, this film of the Wayans brothers ridicules ‘The Haunting’, ‘Hollow Man’ and ‘Charlie’s Angels’. That never really gets fun, so inveterate film freaks who hope it contains a nice joke to a well-known film, will be disappointed.

The biggest shortcoming of this ‘Scary Movie 2’ is the very low joke density. After every joke, no matter how lame, there is a short pause. Apparently the makers of this turd themselves thought it was so funny that they thought it necessary to take a short break in the hope that the laughing viewer can catch their breath. But if the jokes you put on are of such low level or beards that they can’t even make you smile, well then the movie quickly dies after every annoying pause (and joke).

In recent years, the viewer has seen jokes about sperm, homosexuals, disabled people, dumb blondes, puke and oversexed castle lords just too often to be surprised. And you guessed it: ‘Scary Movie 2’ treats you to all these stale, blunt jokes. Add to that the fact that you already know most of the comically intended situations from ‘Scary Movie 1′ and you understand that this work by the Wayans brothers is a very easy-going cash-in.

The protagonists have just about all come together to perform again in this second part. Anna Faris makes herself through the film for the second time as the stupid Cindy. Farrs quickly gets on your nerves with her badly crafted, quasi-funny and innocent acting. Imagine a grown woman who tries to be funny with some crazy faces and a squeaky schoolgirl voice, it shouldn’t be a mystery that it doesn’t work.

To make matters worse, her colleagues aren’t much better. Marlon Wayans once again plays the always stoned Shorty. With rather crafted mannerisms and a squeaky voice, he has to provide comic moments. So that also fails. Shawn Wayans also plays the same role in the same annoying way as in part one: the horny, latent gay. All these characters have in common that they are very selfish, petty and childish.

Not a single character in the film is likeable. And that is disastrous for a film, because as a viewer you cannot identify with the main characters, let alone that you even care about them. For a horror film, a bad identification with the characters is not bad, because you know that sooner or later they will die anyway. But a comedy is really a completely different film discipline. You are condemned to a certain number of characters who guide you through the film, and if those characters in question are very annoying and unsympathetic, it detracts a lot from the film.

What is completely incomprehensible is the presence of respected actors such as James Woods and Tim Curry in this cinematographic monstrosity. Okay, Hollywood icons will also have to pay the rent, but a slightly higher quality film would certainly not have been bad. It just hurts to see a strong actor like Woods in a cringe-inducing, stretched-out fart scene. Curry still manages to keep his dignity in this movie, but it’s just obvious that a man of his level doesn’t belong in a movie like this ‘Scary Movie’.

It is totally incomprehensible that despite all the poorly executed elements, this film has become a big box-office success. A part three is already out and a fourth part is already planned. People with any self-respect should avoid this movie. Anyone else who can unabashedly laugh at falling disabled people, raunchy sex jokes, homophobic jokes and squirting cum, however, can indulge themselves with this stalemate.