Scream 3, starring Neve Cambell, Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette. With Liev Schreiber and Carrie Fisher. Rated R for violence, gore and profanity. Directed by Wes Craven. 2000.
Reviewed by Jeff Bogart * * * out of five
Well, it's been a little adventure... watching the Scream flicks evolve and generate it's stir over the course of the past five-or-so years. Overall, as a moviegoing experience, it was satisfying. Scream brought back an entire genre, and to a new generation. Bringing forth both the good (The Faculty), the bad (Urban Legend) and the ugly (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer). Along with some loose ends in between. Though, not one exceeded the influence or even entertainment value of it's predecessor
The first was an excellent movie. It had a dark satirization of the horror genre that many a moviegoer appreciated very much. Taking stabs at not only the over-the-top content, but also some hilarious irony towards pop culture as two characters discuss their relationship in relation to film ratings; "Could you settle for a PG-13 relationship?"
The problem with the second, the one I liked the least, was it seemed to take itself more seriously than the others. It was trying too hard and seemed to get lost and become, as itself, part of the genre which it was formerly poking fun at. The ending was less than appealing, and the characters were extremely flat in most cases. But, it had it's moments also.
As for the third (and supposedly final) sequel... aside from it's shockingly disappointing ending and the fact that they kill off the best actor (not necessarily character) during the opening, it was fairly better than decent. It provided some humor, although more in the form of slapstick, as opposed to satire.
Scream 3 is flawed, very much so. But, generally, an ending in a film of this type can literally make or break the film. And in this case, while not breaking fully in half, it fractures in nonetheless. And I'm still in awe at how completely gutless and amateurish the ending was. Everything is wrapped up in a "neat little package" and everyone (who's still alive) lives oh so happily ever after. C'mon, dare to be interesting. Ehren Kruger, who also wrote Arlington Road (for which he won the prestigious Nicholl Screenwriting fellowship award for acheivment in screenwriting) and the soon-coming Reindeer Games with Ben Affleck and Gary Sinise, writes, and while Williamson, the original writer of the first two, is no brilliant mind, we loose the series' style (even knowing I disliked the second).
Kevin Williamson's scripts seem like they were written on a plane trip from Hollywood to Los Angeles, but they are always engrossing. A good waste of time, in most cases. Though, to my surprise, Williamson supposedly nominated Kruger for the job, and while he won praise and did win a very prestigious award for achievements in screenwriting for Road, I feel, well, disappointed at the simplicity of the picture,
As for Williamson's works, The Faculty is merely a reminiscent of a typical 50's drive-in horror flick, Teaching Mrs. Tingle was pretty enjoyable even though definitively "campy," and the Scream series has a heavy cult following now. He can write a good reminiscent of a certain genre. I'm pretty sure he could have improved the ending. Even if as a cheap surprise ending (i.e.: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer).
Scream 3, at times, does break back into the satire of the original. Not too often does it, but when it does, it does so well. Direct comedy towards trilogies, stereotypes-of, etc., though not as impressively as it had in the original.
In general, I'd recommend it. For a good time. If you're going there for any other reason you'll be disappointed. Very typical and nothing extraordinarily new or groundbreaking appears. Rather predictable and tolerably cheesy, as well as consisting of some seemingly forced performances. But I'd rather see this over the second any day. It's worth the money, regardless of the flaws (which come plentiful). My advice: wait for video, get all three and stay up 'til three in the morning watching them.
Final Verdict: C+ 645 words
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