Scary Movie 4

"War of the Worlds" and "The Grudge" are the two central movie parody themes of "Scary Movie's" fourth installment. The three preceding "Scary Movie" films were all bad, yet, nevertheless, better than this. That's a scary movie concept all by itself: a series of lame parody films full of scatological humor and oddly elliptical narratives executed with an ever-diminishing set of standards and no sense of direction or purpose or actual real humor whatsoever, forever.

Here, the ghostly shadow from "The Grudge" helps "Scary Movie" alum Anna Faris save the world form an alien invasion with Craig Bierko ("Cinderella Man") haplessly in tow. Bierko plays Tom Cruise -- not Tom Cruise's character from "War of the Worlds," but just Tom Cruise, which is less funny than just sort of mean-spirited. Which, as it turns out, is really the stock and trade of these movies: They are not parodies, or even roasts; they're simply mean and dumb. Starring Anna Faris, Craig Bierko, Regina Hall, Simon Rex, Bill Pullman, Anthony Anderson and Leslie Nielsen. Directed by David Zucker. Written by Craig Mazin and Jim Abrahams. Produced by Craig Mazin and Robert K. Weiss. A Weinstein Co. release. Comedy. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor throughout, some comic violence and language. Running time: 83 min