Movie Info
Movie Name: Scary Movie 3
Studio: Dimension Films
Genre(s): Comedy/Horror
Release Date(s): October 24, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Detroit can be scary, but stick to real horror movies
Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) is trying to raise her nephew Cody (Drew Mikuska) while working as a reporter. When a deadly video tape kills Cindy’s friend and Cody’s teacher Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall), Cindy worries that she and Cody are next. Meanwhile, Tom Logan (Charlie Sheen) and his brother George (Simon Rex) are facing a possible alien invasion. Are the two events related and can President Baxter Harris (Leslie Nielsen) save the world?
Directed by David Zucker, Scary Movie 3 is a horror sci-fi parody comedy. Following Scary Movie 2 in 2001, the Wayans Brothers are not involved in the film as with the previous two films. The movie had a strong box office showing and received mixed to negative reviews.
I actually kind of liked Scary Movie 2…probably better than the first Scary Movie. The plots and laughs gelled more for me and the movie works for that reason. Scary Movie 3 does feel more like a Naked Gun movie, but that isn’t always the best thing.
I love you, Leslie, but you’re killing this movie…
The movie kind of ditches the Scary Movie idea. While both Signs and The Ring are the primary sources of influence (and horror movies), the movie seems to just be throwing any source for its comedy. The movie devotes a long time to its 8 Mile parody and jokes about The Matrix sequels. There are aspects of these parodies that are funny in Scary Movie 3, but it feels like it should have stuck to horror films because they just feel shoved in there for time.
The movie is loaded with a huge cast and cameos (like the opening spoof of The Ring with Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson). Queen Latifah and Eddie Griffin show up spoofing The Matrix sequels, but an alternate ending which featured them heavily, was rewritten. Another big Matrix joke (which ties The Matrix and The Ring together in the film) is the appearance of the Architect character played by George Carlin. Other cameos and roles include Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, Camryn Manheim, D.L. Hughley, Ja Rule, Denise Richards, Jeremy Piven, Darrell Hammond, Simon Cowell. A slew of rappers show up at the end with Master P, Method Man, RZA, Raekwon, Macy Gray, U-God, and Redman all gunning each other down. I love Leslie Nielsen, but most of his scenes were unfunny and cringe-worthy.
More of scary movies…less random movies and dramas
It is a lot of the visuals that win for Scary Movie more so than the jokes. The physical humor is actually pretty good at points, but the filmmakers run the risk of overplaying (and do overplay) it often. You can see a kid hit in the head multiple times, but eventually, it’s going to get old.
Scary Movie 3 is another step down in a rapidly declining movie series. The market is so flooded with spoof movies that they are almost spoofing themselves. It stopped being original (and funny) for the most part, but they are so cheap to produce and people still go to them. They are easy, brainless, and a few cheap laughs. Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2 had their moments, but the moments are coming fewer and farther between for Scary Movie 3. Scary Movie 3 was followed by Scary Movie 4 in 2006.
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