50 Worst Comedy Sequels
Who let the jokes out?
Home Alone 4 (2002)
The Comedy: Has nobody ever heard of a burglar alarm? This third Home Alone sequel again stars Kevin McCallister (this time played by Mike Weinberg), whose parents have split up.
When Kev goes to stay at the mansion of his dad's rich girlfriend over Christmas, he attracts yet more burglars.
Lowest Moment: Kevin admits that he's even younger than he was in the first two movies. Which just doesn't make any sense at all.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Plan (2006)
The Comedy: Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) aka Santa Claus is still having trouble balancing his family life with his duties as Big Red – and now he's got evil Jack Frost (Martin Short) attempting to take over Christmas.
Can Scott resist Jack's plot to get him to sign away his right to the Santa Claus suit?
Lowest Moment: The film's mixed messages. So family's important, not crass commercialisation? If that's true, go spend time with your family instead of watching this...
Shrek The Third (2007)
The Comedy: After the brilliance of Shrek 2 , this is an all-time low for the franchise, with Shrek and Fiona now lumbered with a gaggle of screaming kiddies.
Worse still, Shrek's now expected to become King of Far, Far Away, but he doesn't want the privilege...
Lowest Moment: John Cleese's extended deathbed croak is a rare high point, but the low point is definitely Justin Timberlake's bland Artie, who contributes pretty much nothing to the film.
American Pie: The Book Of Love (2009)
The Comedy: Seventh American Pie film (though only the fourth of the supposedly non-canon spin-off sequels).
This time, three new high school virgins discover the book from the first film, and plan their V-plate-vanquishing fun-times.
Lowest Moment: You realise this is the seventh American Pie film that Eugene Levy has subjected himself to, and you hope he's getting a nice fat check for his efforts.
The Hangover Part II (2011)
The Comedy: It's been two years since the first bachelor party left Phil and chums in a pickle, and they don't seem to have learned a thing – when they get to Thailand for Stu's wedding, things go apeshit. Again.
Lowest Moment: The 'waking up' moment, which is the first massive hint that this sequel is going to copy the first film's plot beat-for-beat.
Scary Movie 5 (2013)
The Comedy : In the wake of Scream 4 , Dimension Films resuscitate the spoof spin-off for a fifth outing that repeats all the mistakes of the first four Scary Movie flicks – namely lampooning films that AREN'T EVEN HORROR FILMS.
Lowest Moment: Even a Paranormal Activity schtick involving washed-up has-beens Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan can't crank out any giggles.
When Sheen and Lohan are your headliners, you know you're in trouble.
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Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
The Comedy : A sequel to Pee-wee's Big Adventure. This time, Pee-wee (Paul Reubens) has to contend with a circus that has literally just blown into town and landed on his farm.
Also up for the ritual humiliation: Penelope Ann Miller, who, frankly, deserves much, much better.
Lowest Moment: Pee-wee's pet is a talking pig – and no, not the adorable Babe sort. Painful.
Porky's Revenge (1985)
The Comedy: Third of the Porky's films, and easily the worst. Graduation is approaching at Angel Beach High, and Porky (Chuck Mitchell) is at loggerheads with the old gang.
Why? He wants them to throw the upcoming basketball game as he's betting on the other team. Douche.
Lowest Moment: A teacher is caught in a compromising (read: S&M-related) situation. This is getting old now.
Be Cool (2005)
The Comedy: Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is sick of the movie industry (think Travolta could relate?), so he's decided to have a go at music instead. As you do.
As he attempts to mix some bangin' beats, he romances Edie Athens (Uma Thurman), the wife of a dead music exec.
Lowest Moment : Travolta and Thurman give a nod to their Pulp Fiction days for a dancefloor routine that just makes us wish we were watching Tarantino's film.
Look Who's Talking Now (1993)
The Comedy: Former talking babies Mikey and Julie have grown up, so now we get to hear the inner voices of their pet dogs – as voiced by Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton.
Yes, things have gotten that bad...
Lowest Moment: The subplot in which John Travolta's boss (Lysette Anthony) attempts to seduce him. Yawn.
Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.