Scary Movie 2 Blu-ray Review

"Scary Movie 2" lands on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, unfortunately failing to fulfill the visual expectations set by the Blu-ray medium. The transfer is marred by a prevalent softness that frequently diminishes fine detail and sense of depth, making it resemble a DVD rather than a true high-definition disc. The print exhibits minor damage, including black specks and white flecks, and suffers from noticeable edge enhancement. These artifacts distract from the viewing experience, giving the image a processed and occasionally unattractive appearance.

Color reproduction is decent yet lacks the rich, bold quality that characterizes superior Blu-ray releases, with colors appearing somewhat washed out. Black levels are generally solid, albeit compromised by noticeable crushing in darker sequences, which hampers shadow detail and obscures action in dim scenes. Brightly lit close-ups fare better, offering decent fine detail and a modest pop in color. However, the image frequently appears flat and lifeless overall due to poor contrast and an absence of substantial depth. The digital noise reduction employed leaves the presentation looking overly polished and detracts from the potential visual crispness.

The video quality feels like an outdated transfer, providing only a marginal upgrade over the DVD version. While some scenes perform better than others, the Blu-ray does not leverage the full potential of high-definition technology. This release comes across as more of a standard definition upconvert, making it a lackluster rendition that fails to enhance the home viewing experience significantly.

Scary Movie 2’s" audio presentation on Blu-ray is anchored by a lively DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, which brings a dynamic and immersive experience to the viewer. The mix balances ample LFE and robust bass that deliver some impressive floorboard-rattling moments. Directionality is implemented effectively, placing sound effects strategically around the surround channels. This spatial arrangement ensures the viewer is encapsulated in key scenes, enriching the overall cinematic experience. Dialogue, integral to maintaining the film's comedic timing, remains clean and distinct amidst the cacophony of effects and score layered in almost every scene.

Despite these positive attributes, the track shows occasional flaws. While the dialogue is mostly clear, there can be instances of slight crackling. The directionality, though impactful, sometimes lacks finesse and can appear abrupt. Atmospheric effects like thunder and ghostly howls are well-represented in the rear channels, enhancing the immersive quality, yet there are times when the balance within the mix falters, causing effects to overpower dialogue and score.

Dynamic range is respectable and bass performance is potent during action-packed sequences. However, the surround use intermittently feels uninspired, resulting in an overall sound experience that, while effective, might not consistently reach great heights. Nonetheless, the mix achieves a satisfactory level of punch and engagement, aligning well with the chaotic nature of "Scary Movie 2.

The Blu-ray release of "Scary Movie 2" offers a variety of extras that, while somewhat skippable, might still entertain fans. Presented in standard definition with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio, these supplements include featurettes, deleted scenes, and special effects tours. The "Behind the Scenes" featurette gives a look into the comedic but often shallow production process. Deleted scenes, including three alternate endings, provide extended backstory and plot setup. Special effects are a highlight, detailing the intricate vomit rig and animatronic kittens used in the film. The makeup featurette provides insights into the horror effects, albeit briefly. Despite their limited depth, these extras reflect the effort behind the movie’s production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes Featurette: Interviews with cast and crew about making the sequel.
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes: Extended scenes adding backstory and humor.
• Special Effects Tour: Demonstrations of special effects used, like a vomit rig.
• Here Kitty, Kitty Featurette: Focus on animatronic kittens used in kitten fight scene.
• Scary Effects Featurette: Additional behind-the-scenes footage including fake glass and rotating room.
• Behind the Makeup Featurette: Insights into creating makeup effects for horror scenes.

"Scary Movie 2" embodies a brazen approach to comedy, leveraging unabashed stupidity for laughs. This sequel goes further than its predecessor in its willingness to engage in shameless humor, at times bordering on outright idiocy. It opens with a grossly amusing parody of "The Exorcist," driven by an eccentric performance from James Woods, and continues to haphazardly reference a myriad of horror films. Despite its chaotic structure and nonsensical plot, the film manages to elicit laughter through relentless gag sequences. The return of characters from the first film, including the clueless Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her not-quite-dead friends, adds to the farcical continuity that ignites the series' charm.

The comedy in "Scary Movie 2" is notably lurid and juvenile, with references spanning from mainstream horror such as "The Exorcist" and "House on Haunted Hill" to more obscure material like "MacGyver" and "Harry Potter." While this scattershot approach demands a broad viewing repertoire to fully appreciate every joke, regrettably, many fall flat. The humor predominantly relies on physical gags, including profuse bodily fluid jokes and exaggerated pratfalls. This lowbrow comedy style underscores the film’s appeal to a less discerning, younger audience, despite its R rating. Nonetheless, the ensemble cast's energetic performances—especially Tim Curry as the creepy Professor Oldman and Anna Faris as the comedically gifted Cindy—add a layer of amusing absurdity to the otherwise slapdash narrative.

Overall, "Scary Movie 2" is an inelegant blend of hastily compiled sketches, rather than a coherent film. The writing lacks the incisive wit needed to elevate its premise beyond mere gross-out humor and dated pop culture references. The cast’s enthusiasm and commitment to the parody are commendable, but not enough to salvage the film from its glaring mediocrity. A rushed sequel with minimal creative ambition, it nevertheless provides intermittent amusement through sheer persistence and crudeness.

“Scary Movie 2” continues in the tradition of its predecessor, delivering an onslaught of crude humor and slapstick comedy. The Blu-ray release provides an underwhelming video quality that closely mimics DVD standards rather than true high-definition, leaving much to be desired from a visual perspective. However, the lossless audio stands out as a notable improvement, capturing the film's chaotic soundscapes with clarity, even though it rarely reaches impressive limits. Supplementary materials included are consistent with the previous DVD release, offering fans additional content, albeit not particularly enriching.

In terms of content, “Scary Movie 2” is unabashed in its approach, leaning heavily into its parody elements. The film cycles through an array of idiotic references and over-the-top gags with relentless energy. While the humor can be hit-or-miss and often feels recycled, there are moments that manage to elicit genuine laughter through sheer volume of attempts. When a movie inundates the audience with such an incessant stream of jokes, some are bound to land effectively. Despite its slapdash nature and lackluster performances, the film achieves its goal of being a relentless spoof that doesn’t take itself seriously.

In conclusion, "Scary Movie 2" thrives on its brazenly silly charm and ability to make viewers laugh at the most absurd antics. Though the Blu-ray’s video quality is disappointing, the improved audio and comprehensive extras may still appeal to die-hard fans. Others might prefer renting it first to gauge their tolerance for its brand of humor before making a purchase. If excess and absurdity equate to value, "Scary Movie 2" might just be the epitome of parody films.