[MOVIE REVIEW]Sequel With Depth of a Sequin

The original "Scary Movie" promised "No mercy. No shame. No sequel." Unfortunately, the Wayans brothers ignored their promise and went ahead with "Scary Movie 2." "Scary Movie" was a spoof of a spoof. The gleefully gross movie was based on Wes Craven's "Scream," which itself deconstructed and/or parodied Craven's own contributions to the entire horror genre.

"Scary Movie 2" is mostly based on the recent and unremarkable Hollywood ghost story "The Haunting," but it also works its way through "Charlie's Angels," "Mission Impossible 2," "Hannibal" and even Nike basketball commercials. The scatterbrained sequel pushes the limits of vulgar humor while lacking any sense of exhilaration. Having said that, "Scary Movie 2" does have its funny moments.

The movie opens with a spoof of "The Exorcist." Father McFelly (James Woods) is called to help Father Harris (Andy Richter) exorcise a demon from Megan (Natasha Lyonne).

A year later, a diabolic professor invites the survivors of "Scary Movie" and several others to a weekend at a haunted house. The participants think they are taking part in an experiment in sleep deprivation; but the professor really wants to unleash evil.

The students are the heroine Cindy (Anna Faris), her new pal Buddy (Chris Masterson), the sexually ambivalent jock Ray (Shawn Wayans), his "girlfriend" Brenda (Regina Hall), the stoner Shorty (Marlon Wayans), the slut Theo (Tori Spelling) and the sultry Jamie Lee Curtisto (Kathleen Robertson). Once the students realize they are locked in the mansion, it is already too late － the ghosts have come out and they are ready to play.

With such a large cast, the movie lacks focus. Instead of gathering momentum by building off each other, or even just being funny caricatures, the characters feel flat. If the cast is too much to handle, consider the number of screenwriters: six. There are too many comedy sketches thrown together without a coherent theme.

There are some genuinely funny gags, including a wheelchair race, a fight between Cindy and a possessed cat and the Nike commercial break. There's also a potty-mouth parrot and a plant that grows into a monster and starts smoking a drug abuser like he was a joint.

Because the gross-out factor is high, if you plan on watching "Scary Movie 2," do not eat dinner beforehand.

by Joe Yong-hee