[MacBlayne]

BRIDE OF CHUCKY

Chucky gets lucky!

Chucky is resurrected by his former lover, Tiffany. But when she shows no interest in helping him become human again, he murders her, and transfers her soul into a doll. Together, they set out on a road trip to retrieve an artifact that can make them human again.

Some, including Don Mancini, have credited Scream for Chucky’s return, but I think this is a little disingenuous. Scream probably helped persuade the studios, but the Chucky series always carried an element of parody, self-awareness, and satire. Bride of Chucky is just the first one to dismiss the horror and become a full-blown comedy. And it’s hilarious!

Bride of Chucky is one of the best comedies ever made. Barely a minute passes without one laugh. Mancini’s screenplay is loaded with sharp gags and winks, and God director Ronny Yu (alongside his Hong Kong team: cinematographer Peter Pau; and editor David Wu) creates a heightened reality that sells it. Tilted cameras, heavy blue filters, roaring winds, blinding lightening – it is perfect.

Of course, it’s Chucky we’re here for, and this sees Brad Dourif at his best. He’s clearly having a blast, and Kevin Yagher’s doll effects capture this beautifully. But as fantastic as Dourif is, he is almost beaten by Jennifer Tilly’s Tiffany. Easily one of the greatest comedic performances ever, I strongly believe she should have been nominated for an Oscar in this. I swear, for the entirety of the running time, I was wiping away tears of laughter. Even John Ritter and Alexis Arquette have small roles, and they are gold.

The only sour note is Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile as the teen lovers hijacked by Chucky. They are not bad, but they lack chemistry, and they don’t sell Mancini’s witty dialogue as the other cast members do. That said, there is a wonderful running joke, one that borders on sweet, that while the teenagers’ romance slowly collapses, Chucky and Tiffany fall deeper in love. Even to the point where, for the briefest of moments, Chucky seems to slightly regret his past actions, relishing the thought of a domestic life.

This is probably my favourite of the series, just slightly above the first film. Comedies nowadays wish they could be this funny and stylish. Highly recommended!