Before I dive right into the hilarity of this film, I want to mention that I am fully aware of how ridiculous and dumb movies like A Haunted House 2 appear. But I have to review this film for what it is, and it is a spoof. Believe it or not, it’s a good spoof; one that doesn’t highlight so much product placement that you lose all focus of the story. And let’s face it; this is what the past years of parody disasters have produced.
Of course there shouldn’t be too much worry when you have comedian, Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie, White Chicks) behind the screenplay. Wayans is able to combine various horror film plot lines into his 87 minute spoof without going completely off track of his main premise. This is a task that is usually failed in films like Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie.
A Haunted House was a great display of how Paranormal Activity and The Exorcist should be made fun of. In this sequel, the film picks up right where it left off. After having exorcised the demons of his ex and trying to leave that terrifying supernatural experience behind him, Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) is starting fresh with his new girlfriend (Jaime Pressly) and her two children. But once they move into their dream home, Malcolm once again encounters bizarre paranormal events.
In comparison to the first, A Haunted House 2 is an overall bigger production. There are more characters, more horror films that are being spoofed and even more racist jokes. What is probably one of the most comical parts of the film is how Malcolm’s relationship with his new white girlfriend, Megan, differs so much from his first girlfriend, Kisha (Essence Atkins). Racial stereotypes are a long running joke in both films, and are presented in an enjoyable and tasteful manner for audiences.
I will admit that there are still plenty of moments in this movie that might be a little too much, or a scene that could have been shown in half the time. However, the continuous plot and constant references from the first film keeps you engaged enough in the story to forgive any over exaggerated scenes. What is so frustrating about the Scary Movie franchise is that it started out as this outrageously funny story of Anna Faris’ character. But as it went on, it was as if the films before never even happened. I hope that if A Haunted House continues to produce sequels, Wayans will maintain a solid story that will eventually come full circle for all the main characters.
Expect to see some of the most popular scary flicks parodied, like The Conjuring, The Ring, and Insidious. Cedric the Entertainer is even better the second time around as Father Williams, and even though she is only on screen for a limited amount of time, Essence Atkins is still the most entertaining “crazy bitch.” If you enjoy spoofs and even mildly liked the first film, A Haunted House 2 will surely satisfy.
Rating: 3.5/5
Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com
