2000, 1 hr 58 min., Rated R for strong horror violence and language.�Dir: Wes Craven. Cast: David Arquette (Dewey Riley), Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott), Courteney Cox Arquette(Gale Weathers), Patrick Dempsey (Detective Mark Kincaid), Scott Foley (Roman Bridger/Director), Lance Henriksen (John Milton/Older Director), Matt Keeslar (Tom Prinze/Dewey in Stab 3), Jenny McCarthy (Sarah Darling/Candy in Stab 3), Emily Mortimer (Angelina Tyler/Sidney in Stab 3), Parker Posey (Jennifer Jolie/Gale in Stab 3), Deon Richmond (Tyson/Ricky in Stab 3), Patrick Warburton (Steve Stone/Jennifer Jolie's bodyguard), Liev Schreiber (Cotton Weary), Heather Matarazzo (Martha Meeks), Carrie Fisher (Bianca Burnadette).

The third and final installment of the Scream franchise isn't particularly articulate nor is it very memorable, but it does provide two hours of decent entertainment. Better than part two, the final sequel provides a finale to the story, although it wasn't very fulfilling in the events leading up to the end.

Also like the first two, the third film isn't scary. I find myself more frightened by the monkeys in The Wizard of Oz, the effalumps and woozels in Winnie the Pooh and Kathie Lee Gifford's hair. So don't expect to be jumpy at all, even the opening scene with the elaborate killings for which Scream is well known.

PLOT: The Woodsboro gang moves to southern California as the ghost-masked killer strikes again on the set of Stab 3, the film within a film about the original Scream murders. Sydney (Neve Campbell) emerges from a remote hideout, Dewey (David Arquette) works as an advisor to the movie and Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox Arquette) is still looking for a pullitzer prize-winning story.

In the game of whodunit I lost, but that's only because I forgot the rules of Scream that it's someone not given much attention. Don't worry, that could be a dozen characters in the film. My advice, don't worry about the specifics and try to guess, just watch and be entertained.

The filmmakers clearly recognized that the bickering duo of Courtney Cox Arquette (Gale Weathers) and Parker Posey (actress who plays Gale Weathers in Stab 3) was the most crowd-pleasing and fun to watch. The two spar throughout the movie, essentially "out-bitching" each other. I'm not sure what happened to Posey, though, because she looks very worn out and spent. Then again, Cox Arquette doesn't look much better.

Campbell isn't even the star of the movie, instead letting Cox Arquette and her husband, David occupy most of the spotlight. That is disappointing, as Neve is a better and more likeable actress, not to mention the axis by which the trilogy revolves.

What makes the movie fun are the pop culture references to Hollywood, an easy target with considering the plot. When it comes to these little slams against the Los Angeles lifestyle, most hit their mark, especially those bashing Scream itself. "Stab 3, Jesus, I gotta get a new agent," complains Candy (Jenny McCarthy), an actress who feels she is above such tripe horror fare. There are also A LOT of references to actresses sleeping with producers and directors in order to get parts.

Watch for two great cameos that most young film lovers will love: 1) Jay and Silent Bob from Kevin Smith's films, and 2) Carrie Fisher playing a former actress turned film archivist discussing how George Lucas screens actresses.

After the breakthrough of the original, it's too bad the ultimate ending makes about as much sense as what the heck's inside a twinkie's creamy filling.