Scary Movie 3: Episode I - Lord of the Brooms Review
by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)November 4th, 2003
SCARY MOVIE 3
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2003 David N. Butterworth
**1/2 (out of ****)
As directed by David Zucker, "Scary Movie 3" isn't as wall-to-wall hysterical
as you might expect from a member of the ZAZ triumvirate (Zucker, along with brother Jerry and Jim Abrahams, pioneered the rapid fire gag-a-minute technique
evidenced in such spoofs as "Airplane!," "Hot Shots!," and "The Naked Gun" series
of films), but the third part of the franchise effectively parodies such assailable
blockbusters as "8 Mile," "The Ring," and M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs." There are also references to "The Matrix," "The Others," and M. Night Shyamalan's "The Six Sense." Someone even spoofs the cameo M. Night Shyamalan himself played
in his extra-terrestrial crop circle movie. Somebody somewhere has a thing for M. Night Shyamalan.
Funny that.
About half the gags work--par for the course for this style of
scattershot
comedy--and you'll appreciate this go round more if you've seen the films in question. But there are sight gags and silly stunts and double entendres a plenty to keep you chuckling even if you haven't. Oh, and lots of gratuitous pulchritude courtesy Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, and "Scary Movie" regular
Anna Faris for a lusty change of pace.
Faris plays TV reporter Cindy Campbell who's terrorized by a homicidal videotape (ala "The Ring"; you die seven days after watching it). Faris continues
to display a ditsy, wide-eyed perkiness that's perfect for the role. In the third but not necessarily final chapter of the series she's joined by a roster of notables that include Charlie Sheen (as the former minister turned farmer played by Mel Gibson in "Signs"), Simon Rex as an eminently white rapper, and the obligatory Leslie Neilsen, who plays The President (or maybe Mr. Magoo it's
hard to tell). Cameos--some good, some not so good--abound.
Fans of "Scary Movie" 1 and 2 will be disappointed to know that while Faris
is back the Wayans Brothers, who originated the series, have nothing to do with
this version. Part 3 is, for some inexplicable reason, also toned down to a PG-13 rating, which means the gross-out stuff isn't quite so gross and the risqué
stuff isn't quite so risqué.
Scary that.
--
David N. Butterworth
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