Spoofing:
Success to Comedy?
By Harinda Vidanage
‘Scary
Movie 3’ returns with the touches of a veteran comic director
as the third installment of the horror spoof franchise took in nearly
$50 million at the box office, slaughtering the October record set
last year by the “Red Dragon.”
The comedy made
for close to 40% of all tickets sold in its first weekend of release.
Director/producer David Zucker takes the reins from the Wayans brothers,
who created “Scary Movie” and its lack lustre sequel.
But at least there’s good news: “Scary Movie 3”
completely outshines “Scary Movie 2” in many aspects.
David Zucker is one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers,
with such smash comic hits as “Airplane!” “Ruthless
People,” “Naked Gun,” “Naked Gun 2 1/2”
and “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.”
With its funniest
installment yet: Scary Movie 3. Taking shots at the latest crop
of block busters, Scary Movie 3 irreverently roasts “The Ring,”
“Signs,” “Matrix Reloaded,” “8 Mile,”
“The Others” and more, as well as pop culture trends
such as “American Idol.”
“I thought
the original ‘Scary Movie’ was extremely funny,”
says Zucker, “ and when I watched some recent releases such
as ‘The Ring,” “Eight Mile,’ ‘Signs’
and ‘The Matrix: Reloaded’ I was hooked there was just
too much going on in these movies that was ripe for the spoofing.
I was sure we could make a really funny movie by turning these popular
movies inside out.”
Story line
goes as when roving reporter Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) sets out
to find a hard news story in the middle of television sweeps. She
soon uncovers an outrageous onslaught of globe-threatening developments
including alien invaders, killer videotapes, freaky crop circles,
prophecies of The One, eerie-eyed children, ambitious white rappers
and even a run-in with Michael Jackson.
Faced with conspiracies
of massive proportions, and a crew of very strange people following
her around, Cindy must fight to stop evil from taking over the world
yet again all while sparing no plot line from Scary Movie 3’s
assault of fast-flying twists that blow the lid off the original
movie scenes
Charlie Sheen plays the afflicted farmer, while Queen Latifah and
comedian Eddie Griffith pop in to provide “Matrix” jokes.
Heading the
cast of SCARY MOVIE 3 is Anna Faris, one of the stars of the original
“Scary Movie” and back this time as an all grown-up
Cindy Campbell, now a tenaciously serious news reporter whose unceasing
investigations reveal a sudden blitz of bizarre happenings, from
extraterrestrials on the loose to homicidal videotapes at large.
Despite her
recent award-winning performance in “Chicago,” Queen
Latifah was more than ready and willing to take part in SCARY MOVIE
3. “It’s funny, it’s crazy, kids love it and I
like to laugh,” she says of her desire to join in on the party.
Returning from “Scary Movie 2” is Regina Hall, who plays
Brenda, now a teacher who is stalked by an accursed videotape. Hall
thinks the time is right for a new, and even sillier, “Scary
Movie” installment. “
Also joining
in Scary Movie 3 is a group of today’s hottest rap stars,
many of whom were already fans of the “Scary Movie”
series long before they got this opportunity” including guys
from the Wu Tang Clan and Master P and Method Man and Redman was
really great because only in SCARY MOVIE 3 can you mix these worlds.
It could have been cultures clashing, but instead we had a great
time.” says the director.
The full cast
includes Simon Rex as rap-star Wannabe George; Jeremy Piven as reporter
Ross Giggins; Camryn Manheim as the formidable Trooper Champlin;
Regina Hall as eerie school teacher Brenda Meeks, Anthony Anderson
as rap promoter Mahalik; as well as George Carlin. Fat Joe, Simon
Cowell, Method Man, Redman, Macy Gray, Master P., Ja Rule, D.L.
Hughley. The Coors Twins and Pamela Anderson make cameo appearances
as well.
The comic essences
are enhanced by the contribution made by script writer Pat Proft
who has been one of Hollywood’s most prolific writers, and
previously worked with David Zucker on “Naked Gun” “Naked
Gun 2 1/2” and “Naked Gun 33 1/3.” Some of his
most notable credits as writer, co-writer and producer include “Police
Academy,” “Bachelor Party,” “Real Genius,”
“Moving Violations,” “Lucky Stiff,” “Hot
Shots!,” “Brain Donors,” “Hot Shots! Part
Deux,” “High School High,” “Mr. Magoo”
and “Wrongfully Accused”.
Some other
additions to Scary Movie 3 come straight out of recent pop culture.
This phenomenon has become a major influence to most of the movies
made in the recent context under various genres. Scary Movie 3 will
definitely generate quite a laugh and is an enjoyable movie for
even kids as it has diverted from its original ‘R’ rating
to more softer ‘PG 13’. |