The Scary Movie gang is back with send-ups of "War of the Worlds," "The Grudge," "The Village," "Saw" and "Saw II," "Million Dollar Baby" and much more. Legendary comedy director David Zucker ("Airplane!," the "Naked Gun" franchise, "Scary Movie 3," and "Ruthless People") and producer Bob Weiss reunite to take aim at some of the best fright films, the latest box office hits, music, current events. - skip ad - Genres: Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Suspense/Horror and Sequel Release Date: April 14th, 2006 (wide) MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor throughout, some comic violence and language. Distributor: The Weinstein Company , Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Dimension Films Cast And Credits Starring: Molly Shannon, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Craig Bierko, Leslie Nielsen Directed by: David Zucker Produced by: Robert K. Weiss, Craig Mazin

The "Scary Movie" franchise now resembles those montages of movie mockery Billy Crystal uses to launch the Academy Awards telecasts he hosts. The targets in "Scary Movie 4" no longer are horror films but any high-profile film released since 2003's "Scary Movie 3.

Thus, returning writer-director David Zucker and fellow writers Craig Mazin, Pat Proft and Jim Abrahams go after Oscar winners "Brokeback Mountain" and "Million Dollar Baby" right along with

"The Grudge" and "The Village." Anna Faris as the legally blond Cindy and Regina Hall as her libidinous gal pal Brenda return as characters who will (barely) link the comic sketches, sometimes in scene-by-scene re-creations from various movies.

All of which should lead to a strong opening weekend as young film-goers will flock to mock films just going into DVD release. Domestic theatrical potential could reach the $100 million mark.

The movie opens with a "Saw" spoof, in which basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal and talk-show superstar Dr. Phil McGraw are chained to the walls of what appears to be the filthiest bathroom in civilization. O'Neal gets to kid his inability to hit free throws while Dr. Phil demonstrates a less caring, more scoffing side to his instant therapy. This does set a tone.

Next up, Charlie Sheen spoofs his image in the first movie sequence to deal with the serious social problem of death by Viagra overdose. This too sets a tone.

Almost "Grudge"-ingly, the filmmakers give in to the need for a semblance of a plot. Two homes sit next to each other. In one, Cindy essentially encounters all J-horror spoofs. In the other, Craig Bierko essentially plays Tom Cruise playing the blue-collar hero of "War of the Worlds" complete with pissed-off kids.

The movie then takes a happy dive into jokes involving body fluids, bowel problems, pesky ghosts, annoying space aliens, Carmen Electra, strange villages, Michael Jackson, kinky bondage devices,

Leslie Nielsen as a befuddled U.S. president more interested in a children's storybook than the invasion of the U.S. and more Carmen Electra -- well, when you've got it, you flaunt it. The whole thing winds up on Oprah's bouncy couch.

The humor emphasizes quantity over quality, but the batting average isn't too bad. And where else can you witness Leslie Nielsen do a nude scene.