By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"SCARY MOVIE 6" TAKES ANOTHER STAB AT HORROR AND POP CULTURE
Well, it's good to see the Wayans family back in the spoof saddle again with
"Scary Movie 6," a sequel from director
Michael Tiddes (TV's "Laugh it Forward") that dusts off its scream mask, flexes its parody muscles, and aims to revive the long-running series.
Arriving 13 years after the last installment, "Scary Movie 6" reunites familiar faces--including Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris, "Spa Weekend"), Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall, "Judgement Day" and "Girls Trip 2"), Ray Wilkins, (Shawn Wayans, TV's "Animals") and the ever-irrepressible Shorty (Marlon Wayans, "Him")--for another round of horror-movie hijinks.
This time, a masked killer resurfaces forcing the gang back into a world where surviving slasher chaos is easier than surviving pop culture itself.
"Scary Movie 6" isn't shy about its targets. Nothing is safe: "Scream," "M3GAN," "Get Out," "Sinners" and even "Weapons" get dragged into the parody blender. The result is a film that swings wildly between inspired silliness, and jokes that feel like they were left in the draft folder from 2006.
There are moments--glorious, chaotic, laugh-out-loud moments--where the film absolutely sticks the landing. One visual gag here, a perfectly timed pop culture jab there, and suddenly you're reminded why this franchise once ruled the spoof kingdom. But then comes the other half of the joke reel: the ones that linger a beat too long and overshoot the punchline.
That uneven rhythm is the film's biggest killer--more so than the masked one lurking in the background.
Comedy has changed since this franchise blew onto screens. Still, nostalgia is a powerful special effect. Fans of the series will likely find themselves grinning at the sheer audacity of seeing this universe resurrected. Besides, there's still a certain comfort in all the chaos.
"Scary Movie 6" knows it's crazy and crass. It's less a reinvention and more a reunion tour. It's loud, nostalgic, and at times hilarious. It may not always hit its targets, but when it does, it can be scary good.
Oh, and don't forget to stick around for a couple of post-credit scenes.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"SCARY MOVIE 6"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
