The Wayans Brothers' Scary Movie
When ``Scream'' was being written, it was called ``Scary Movie.'' Now that the ``Scream'' trilogy has entered the history books as the ighest-grossing horror franchise in film history with $293 million, here is finally a ``Scary Movie.''
``Scary Movie'' might not become the highest-grossing movie of the ummer but is hands down - not to mention pants and panties down - the rossest hot weather comedy.
And it's from the same company that made ``Scream.''
``Scary Movie'' is, in fact, a spoof of that series, complete with the trademarked ``Scream'' mask modeled on the Edvard Munch painting.
It is also a spoof of ``I Know What You Did Last Summer'' and every sex-obsessed teen horror movie ever made. The model for the six screenwriters, including brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans, was ``Airplane!'' and the targets include ``The Sixth Sense,'' ``American Pie,'' ``Big Momma's House,'' ``Dawson's Creek'' and even ``Amistad.''
Explained Shawn: ``You sit in the theater and say, `What the (expletive) is this!' We'd seen `Scream' and `I Know What You Did Last Summer' and then `I Still Know What You're Doing in the Wintertime' and also `Urban Legend' and when I saw that black Jack in that Jamaican wig in Part 2, we said, `It's time!' ''
``How it happened,'' director Keenen Ivory Wayans said, ``was that Shawn called one day with this idea to spoof these teen horror movies. Him and Marlon and two friends, Buddy Johnson and Phil Beauman, sat and wrote the movie. Ten drafts later, it was ready to take to Miramax (whose Dimension Pictures division had released the `Scream' series).
``They had a deal with Marlon and Shawn after they did `Don't Be a Menace (to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood)' and this was to be their next picture. At the same time Miramax had bought a competing script - what it was called, I can't say - knowing they were going to do this picture. It was, `Let's get this so nobody beats us to it.' Those scripts became `Scary Movie.' ''
``Scary Movie'' also stars Carmen Electra in the Drew Barrymore role from ``Scream,'' ``Saturday Night Live'' 's Cheri Oteri as obnoxious TV reporter Gail Hailstorm and ``American Pie'' babe Shannon Elizabeth as Buffy.
If it is funny, ``Scary Movie'' also prides itself on being loaded with more gross-out jokes than the Farrelly brothers (``Me, Myself & Irene'') and Tom Green (``Road Trip'') combined.
Its gags include enough male nudity to earn most films an NC-17 rating, but ``Scary Story'' is rated R.
``The ratings board focuses on sex and context but doesn't have a problem with body parts,'' Keenen has concluded. ``If it's not in sexual context, you are able to do it. We had to go back three times to the ratings board. After everyone took their heart medicine, the board said, `You're insane' and `Come back with some trims.' ''
Somehow a movie that spoofs teen sex horror movies also spoofs that teen audience, suggesting they are not just sex-obsessed but stupid.
Keenen laughed. ``We've all been teenagers and kids know it and revel in it,'' he said. ``There are a few things they're serious about, but it's the best time of your life and there's no time better.''
Especially when it's time to go see a gross, raucous ``Scary Movie,'' whose only message is, according to Marlon, `Go spend $8.50 and laugh. Check your brain at the door. Don't try to analyze it, just go.' ''
The Wayans won laughs with their hit parody of ``hood'' movies, ``Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.'' With that experience, they knew nothing was off-limits.
``The line for whether we've gone too far is always if the audience is digging it,'' said Shawn. ``We listen to what they're telling us. If they're groaning instead of laughing, you pull back. Otherwise we keep on pushing.''
