Some movies make no sense whatsoever. Such is the fate of Urban Legend, a piece that offers so many holes and flaws that it makes something like I Know What You Did Last Summer seem glossy in comparison. The kicker is that Legend rips the appearance of its main slasher directly from the aforementioned Summer: instead of a shadowy figure wearing a raincoat slicker, it is a shadowy figure wearing a heavy parka as he hacks hapless teens to shreds. In one really painful sequence, someone *else* happens to be wearing the exact same kind of heavy parka, thus providing a False Alarm. Never mind that the flick is set during the summertime and there is no conceivable reason why someone would be wearing that kind of a jacket.
The title comes from the expression used for old sayings and ludicrous stories that have no element of truth to them, but people pass off as factual nevertheless. The movie refers to one about a babysitter that receives a phone call from inside the house before being killed, the murderer who flashes his high beams to trap his next victim, or how mixing Rocket Candy and Pepsi (hello, product placement!) is detrimental to one's health. I've never heard of any of these so-called urban legends before, but I'll bet they exist somewhere, somehow. It makes for a potentially good premise.
Trouble is, the legends are the only marginally interesting thing about the movie. As the victims, or the ones being stalked, actors such as Jared Leto (eager editor Paul) and Alicia Witt (the nervous student Natalie) have to spell out the completely obvious parts every step of the way. They believe a murderer is lurking the campus to coincide with the anniversary of an on-campus massacre. Their friend Brenda (Rebecca Gayheart) thinks they're over-reacting until Natalie reveals a Dark Secret about her past. Dawson's Creek pretty boy Joshua Jackson and perpetual Pussycat Tara Reid are fairly amusing as token friend fodder, and Loretta Devine (Boston Public) has some strained but funny moments as a Pam Greer-wannabe security guard. Watch for Robert Englund (Freddie Krueger from the Nightmare On Elm Street films) and veteran actor John Neville in brief appearances.
By the time the conclusion comes about, the Real Killer actually gives a full speech as to their motives for their killing spree. It is a very corny moment. The hacker even has accompanying slides ready, in order to illustrate their seething anger. I guess movies like Urban Legend do serve a purpose, and that is to elevate the guilty joys we derive from movies like the first Scream and... um... well, I'm sure I'll eventually think of another one. In the meantime, axe this slasher and leave it in the eye candy pile.
