Scary Movie 4 (2006)

For the fourth installment of the Scary Movie franchise, the reigns were handed over to the famed Zucker Bros., who just so happen to pull off a more consistently funny exercise in absurdist humor than their previous so-so third entry. Once again, the duo play their hand with far less vulgarity and more teen-friendly than the first two entries, which is very much a part of why the film hit so big ($40 million on opening weekend is indeed a large opening for any kind of comedy). For the most part, their lampooning works across-the-board, with shot-for-shot recreations of blockbusters gone by, setting the scene for predictably wild sight gags and witty wordplay. With gags hitting the audience at least every two minutes, the flick manages to keep its steam going right up until its riotous finale, featuring a parody of Tom Cruise and Oprah that really shouldn't work, but does, thanks to the filmmakers' willingness to push the gags to the point of ridiculous lunacy. Best intended for audiences not afraid to work out their silly funny bones for a breezy hour and a half, Scary Movie 4 is an infectious and infantile horror romp that doesn't stop, which for its target audience, is just what the doctor ordered. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide