Scary Movie 2 is less focused, sharp, and interesting than its predecessor. The Wayans and company revive all of their lead characters and send them to college. Instead of staying in Scream’s light this one feels more scattershot. To be fair, they lampooned the first two films already. Anyways, Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her friends are attending college as Sidney Prescott and her troupe did in Scream 2. However, this movie riffs on haunted houses and possessions, and a few random films that were in the zeitgeist at this moment. Charlie’s Angels and Dude Where’s My Car? are mixed in with thrillers of that era, like What Lies Beneath and Hollow Man.
Instead of staying in the time it was created, it throws it back to more classic horror nods. Films like The Changeling, The Exorcist, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show are clear reference points. An odd choice, as much of the target demographic must have been expecting something aimed at them again. As a nerd, I loved pointing out references and seeing Tim Curry collect a check. However, this installment is a bit of an overall mess.
Good Times?
Our foursome is duped into going to a haunted house for a school project. Cindy (Faris), Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall), Ray Wilkins (Shawn Wayans), and Shorty Meeks (Marlon Wayans) are all even more exaggerated versions of the tropes they are based on. This is a bad thing in that Ray is still there for a bunch of gay jokes that were never going to age well. Cindy also doesn’t benefit from this, as her naivete lands her some juvenile sex jokes that are painfully fratty. However, the biggest red flag was James Woods as Father McFeely. His screentime in Scary Movie 2 is blessedly short. Still, it sets us up to know this movie will be taking several steps backwards from its predecessor.
Aside from exploiting the haunted house and possession subgenres, this entry feels like it’s trying way too hard all around. The segment of white people singing along to Mystikal’s “Shake Ya Ass” feels like it was just there to have them say the N-word. Again, I might never be high enough to find these movies funny, but I hate being reminded that audiences in 2001 might have laughed at this. Same for the doubling down on ableism jokes this time out because I thought at least that needle would’ve moved forward a bit by that time. There were also way too many sexual assault jokes that need to be discussed to fit into one of these little capsules. Way too many.
At Least We Have Brenda
As usual, Regina Hall elevates what she’s been given and finds a couple of moments to make us lean in. When shit hits the fan, and the option to split up is tossed out, Brenda is the one to point out that it never works out. For being the voice of reason, she’s then tossed into the group with the other Black folks when the group is divided. She also tries to save herself when Cindy brings danger to her hiding place. While Scary Movie 2 is not as sharp as Scary Movie, it’s at least still trying to have these conversations. It’s clumsy and overstuffed, but still attempting to bring some of the conversation to the forefront of this mess.
When I saw Tim Curry playing Professor Oldman, I figured he would be one of my favorites characters. After all, Curry never misses and was a camp king. However, even he couldn’t inspire a few chuckles with this material. Whatever we feel about the first movie, we have to admit this is a far cry from the things that one got right. Which is sad because Scary Movie 2 has more household names and seemingly wants to go bigger in all regards. That makes it sadder that it stomps on its own dynamite and settles for jokes beneath the talent on display. There is a reason this installment feels like Brenda is doing it all by herself. It’s because everyone is given even less to work with this time out.
She’s Not My Favorite
Scary Movie 2 is a misfire. It makes me excited to see how this franchise rebounds from this, though. There was so much potential with this series and so much media that would make for great fodder. Here’s hoping it finds its way back to mid. Or at least sticks to the rivers and the lakes that it’s used to.
Scary Movie 2 Review // It’s Haunted Alright
Scary Movie 2 is less focused, sharp, and interesting than its predecessor. The Wayans and company revive all of their lead characters and send them to college. Instead of staying in Scream’s light this one feels more scattershot. To be fair, they lampooned the first two films already. Anyways, Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her friends are attending college as Sidney Prescott and her troupe did in Scream 2. However, this movie riffs on haunted houses and possessions, and a few random films that were in the zeitgeist at this moment. Charlie’s Angels and Dude Where’s My Car? are mixed in with thrillers of that era, like What Lies Beneath and Hollow Man.
Instead of staying in the time it was created, it throws it back to more classic horror nods. Films like The Changeling, The Exorcist, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show are clear reference points. An odd choice, as much of the target demographic must have been expecting something aimed at them again. As a nerd, I loved pointing out references and seeing Tim Curry collect a check. However, this installment is a bit of an overall mess.
Good Times?
Our foursome is duped into going to a haunted house for a school project. Cindy (Faris), Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall), Ray Wilkins (Shawn Wayans), and Shorty Meeks (Marlon Wayans) are all even more exaggerated versions of the tropes they are based on. This is a bad thing in that Ray is still there for a bunch of gay jokes that were never going to age well. Cindy also doesn’t benefit from this, as her naivete lands her some juvenile sex jokes that are painfully fratty. However, the biggest red flag was James Woods as Father McFeely. His screentime in Scary Movie 2 is blessedly short. Still, it sets us up to know this movie will be taking several steps backwards from its predecessor.
Aside from exploiting the haunted house and possession subgenres, this entry feels like it’s trying way too hard all around. The segment of white people singing along to Mystikal’s “Shake Ya Ass” feels like it was just there to have them say the N-word. Again, I might never be high enough to find these movies funny, but I hate being reminded that audiences in 2001 might have laughed at this. Same for the doubling down on ableism jokes this time out because I thought at least that needle would’ve moved forward a bit by that time. There were also way too many sexual assault jokes that need to be discussed to fit into one of these little capsules. Way too many.
At Least We Have Brenda
As usual, Regina Hall elevates what she’s been given and finds a couple of moments to make us lean in. When shit hits the fan, and the option to split up is tossed out, Brenda is the one to point out that it never works out. For being the voice of reason, she’s then tossed into the group with the other Black folks when the group is divided. She also tries to save herself when Cindy brings danger to her hiding place. While Scary Movie 2 is not as sharp as Scary Movie, it’s at least still trying to have these conversations. It’s clumsy and overstuffed, but still attempting to bring some of the conversation to the forefront of this mess.
When I saw Tim Curry playing Professor Oldman, I figured he would be one of my favorites characters. After all, Curry never misses and was a camp king. However, even he couldn’t inspire a few chuckles with this material. Whatever we feel about the first movie, we have to admit this is a far cry from the things that one got right. Which is sad because Scary Movie 2 has more household names and seemingly wants to go bigger in all regards. That makes it sadder that it stomps on its own dynamite and settles for jokes beneath the talent on display. There is a reason this installment feels like Brenda is doing it all by herself. It’s because everyone is given even less to work with this time out.
She’s Not My Favorite
Scary Movie 2 is a misfire. It makes me excited to see how this franchise rebounds from this, though. There was so much potential with this series and so much media that would make for great fodder. Here’s hoping it finds its way back to mid. Or at least sticks to the rivers and the lakes that it’s used to.
Miss Sharai Bohannon
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