Scary Movie 4

Reviewed By: Brian Edwards

Starring: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Craig Bierko, ,

Written By: Craig Mazin

Ok, I think it is fair to say that the Scary Movie films are not to be taken seriously, that they do require a few mates and a few beers to enjoy and that the odd number films are better than the even number film.

That said I must admit an odd relationship with the Scary Movie episodes. The first one was great, a slapstick gross out swipe at (amongst others) the Scream movies. The second one went to mainly spoof the 4 year old Haunting movie with Catherine Zeta Jones. This is where the Waynes brothers lost their way, though personally I have watched this a number of times and have a strange attachment to it.

The third film saved the franchise – David Zucher/Pat Proft – they of Airplane and Police Academy fame, changed the tone slightly but brought the franchise back with the visual joke laden installment finding itself spoofing a much more recent 'Scay Movie' – The Ring.

The third installment follows this, spoofing (mainly) War Of The Worlds, The Grudge and Saw.

Bringing back Leslie Nielsen as the bufoon president was a good move and coupled with a load of other cameos (some bizarre) gives a lot to look out for, though I think it would help if I was more up on American day time TV (WHO is Dr Phil?) and American sports.

Needless to say the plot is a vague excuse to pack in as many visual gags and to spoof as many films as possible.

Overall the film is more of a Saturday night rental than a buy to keep.