A HAUNTED HOUSE 2 (2014)

Though containing humor just as R-rated and dumbed-down as the first one, there are three great reasons why A Haunted House 2 is worth seeing.  The plot - such as it is - like most sequels parrots the first; Malcom (Marlon Wayans), having dumped his demonically-possessed first girlfriend Kisha, has just moved into a new home with his new girlfriend Megan (Jaime Pressly) and her two kids.  But evil spirits aren't done with Malcolm yet, and soon invade his home, particularly in the guise of a very disturbing doll who looks very much like the one in The Conjuring, who Malcolm ... umm ... ends up "getting freaky with," only to regret it (this storyline being reason #1 to watch).  The humor is crass, very R-rated, at times eye-rollingly lame and at others hilarious - and, in the cases of an early scene with Malcolm and his fluffy white dog, or later as Malcolm tries to kill a rooster as a sacrifice, pee-your pants funny (reasons #2 and #3).  Wayans has yet to learn how to construct a good ending, but in terms of humor this one's actually better than its predecessor. (rated R)  **1/2

A HAUNTED HOUSE 2 trailer