Seed of Chucky

2.5/4

Starring: Jennifer Tilly, Redman, Hannah Spearritt, and the voices of Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly and Billy Boyd

Rated R for Strong Horror Violence/Gore, Sexual Content and Language

It's really gruesome, but it's a heartwarming story. -Jennifer Tilly
If you can buy that argument from the helium-voiced actress (who clearly has no problems making fun of herself), then you'll get some hearty laughs out of this horror movie.  Oh, they're as mean-spirited as you think.  This is a movie about a duo of mass murdering pieces of plastic.  Well, a trio.  I don't know.  Watch the movie and you tell me.

In Britain, a ventriloquist's doll (Boyd) is having nightmares.  You read that right.  The doll is sentient and his puppeteer doesn't have to manipulate him (which is probably a good thing, considering how much of a jerk he is).  Anyway, one day the doll sees Chucky (Dourif) and Tiffany (Tilly) being "interviewed" on TV.  They're playing themselves in a film version of the urban legend of the killer dolls (aka "Bride of Chucky").  Also starring in the movie is Jennifer Tilly herself, who is trying to use Redman's upcoming project about the Virgin Mary to resurrect her career.  In any event, the doll becomes certain that Chucky and Tiffany are his/her parents and sets off to find them.  What he/she doesn't know is that Chucky and Tiffany are real life mass murderers.

With "Bride of Chucky," the creators realized that three movies of a possessed doll as a mad slasher was pushing the limits of common sense.  Even by slasher movie standards.  So they decided to take it in the direction of black comedy.  A wise move, in my opinion, and a natural choice, given how ridiculous the idea actually is.  "Seed of Chucky," which is the directorial debut of Don Mancini, who wrote all of the films in the franchise (save for the remake that came out earlier this year), continues that trend.  "Seed of Chucky" isn't scary, nor does it ever pretend to be.  It's a comedy, and occasionally it's very funny.  For example, there is an ongoing joke about whether the doll from Britain is a boy or a girl.  Chucky thinks it's a boy, whom he names Glen.  Tiffany thinks its a girl, so she calls her Glenda.  Glen/Glenda isn't sure.

The acting requires everyone in this movie to be the butt of a joke at one point or another.  Jennifer Tilly proves that she has no shame and cheerfully allows herself to be shown overweight, desperate and proudly "slutty."  She also plays a doll who is using the 12 steps to rid herself of her "addiction" to killing people.  Billy Boyd plays the gender confused Glen/Glenda, giving the film a Tim Burton-esque feel.

While "Seed of Chucky" is frequently funny, I didn't feel satisfied after watching it.  It lacks the insane drive that a movie like this must have.  The film isn't very focused, and while it has plenty of satirical angles, a lot of it feels like it's been done before.  And better.  Frankly, this movie doesn't have much of a plot, period.

"Seed of Chucky" isn't a very good movie, but it is what it is.

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