Most film parodies these days have taken on the personality of a political campaign commercial -- Fling as much mud as possible and see what sticks. In the case of "Scary Movie 3", three films get splattered the most: "The Ring", "Signs" and "8 Mile".

The lives of Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and farmer Tom Logan (Charlie Sheen) intersect as she investigates crop circles and a mysterious videotape while falling in love with Tom's brother George (Simon Rex), an aspiring rapper.

Fans of the first two films won't recognize this one as being part of the series. The only returning cast members are Anna Faris and Regina Hall, there are no Wayans brothers anywhere, and the urban humor that came so naturally to the preceding films now flows like Jeb Bush's keynote address at a Right-to-Die rally. The whole "8 Mile" parody looks like something that got wedged into the film after the milquetoast writing staff realized that African-Americans might actually show up to the thing, given its titular association with the "Scary Movie" franchise.

Audiences are much more likely to link "Scary Movie 3" with such revered parody films as "High School High", "Wrongfully Accused", and "Breakdown Morant" (the little-seen Australian parody of "Breaker Morant" attended by, at last count, one Aborigine who paid using a boar carcass but later demanded a refund.)

Given that these types of movies are conceived, written, and filmed in less time than it takes one of the Weinsteins to flush a toilet, it's hardly surprising they're so lame.