It’s the mighty return of the Wayans family to a franchise that will, without a doubt, go down as one of the best family-driven projects ever produced in Hollywood — just not including this film.
There were a lot of high hopes for this movie, considering it marks the 26-year reunion of the original cast of “Scary Movie,” directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans (“In Living Color,” “White Chicks”). It’s also the first time the legendary family has been fully at the helm of the creative control behind the project. No outsiders receiving co-writing credits or claiming their ideas made it into the finished product (we know who you are) — just a strictly family affair.
The Film ‘Should’ Have Worked
So, what could possibly go wrong?
“Scary Movie” may be a Wayans family production, but this film has Marlon’s fingerprints all over it. Bringing in his longtime creative partner, Michael Tiddes, the parody attempts to attract a newer audience with its crude and raunchy humor while using familiar franchise gimmicks to satisfy the OG fans.
Clever jokes sprinkled throughout a sea of immature humor are exactly what audiences want and expect from a “Scary Movie” film. However, what has always worked best for parodies is its ability to address social issues and comment on current events through satire. Coming from a family that built its reputation in Hollywood by helping reshape the landscape of sketch comedy and influencing how it is viewed today, this should have been a slam dunk.
I believe it’s everyone’s dream to build a business that can be passed down to their children so they can carry on the legacy. And when it comes to the Wayans family, it’s safe to say: mission accomplished.
New Characters Are Hard to Connect To
However, while I understand why this newer generation of soon-to-be-hunted-and-killed buffoons was introduced in the sixth installment of the franchise, I was completely uninterested in their bond or their fate. These characters felt like mere reflections of their parents and guardians — but the Temu-brand versions. A few stood out from their peers thanks to solid comedic timing and a strong physical commitment to their roles, but overall, it felt like going to Baskin-Robbins and ordering vanilla ice cream.
The original cast — Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans — are pure gold when sharing the spotlight together. This new crop of rising stars, by comparison, often felt like they were simply delivering lines to get through a scene rather than building genuine on-screen chemistry. The result was often silence, or “Okay, that was awkward.”
Lacking Familiar Catchphrases and Humor
Seeing the old gang back together was undeniably fun. They’re older, wiser — kind of — and at least now seem to have a better understanding of horror movie lore. Most importantly, they still have their comedic chops. But with them no longer being the main focus, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was robbed of something.
Sure, “Wazzup?!” and “What are you waiting for, huh?!” are iconic quotes that had entire generations in a headlock, but nothing here stands out as the kind of catchphrase that will have fans embarrassing themselves by shouting it in public like it’s the year 2000. Maybe a meme or two will emerge, but that’s about it.
And what’s a parody movie without its big-name cameos? Unfortunately, the celebrities who appeared— or returned — to the series brought little impact or surprise. Most reactions amounted to either, “Hey, so-and-so is back,” or “Why are they even here?” Traditionally, one of the joys of a “Scary Movie” film is watching unlikely celebrities interact with these completely unhinged characters. Think Fat Joe, James Woods, Dr. Phil, and others. R.I.P. James Van Der Beek.
Too Much Forced Nostalgia
Half of this rebooquel — as Shorty proudly explains — hits you repeatedly with zingers referencing pivotal moments in pop culture from the last decade, clearly trying to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, some of those jokes didn’t land for me. But when it’s funny it’s hilarious. The other half seems designed for audience members who simply want to recapture a bit of that early-2000s nostalgia. The elements that made those first few films special may simply be gone, never to be recaptured again. While amusing at times, it never reaches the point where you’re laughing so hard it hurts like the franchise once did.
Is it the best “Scary Movie?” Absolutely not. But at least it’s not “Scary Movie 5.”
