SCREAM 3 is nearly as good as the original and its energized but rather dark sequel. Though SCREAM 3 is not the scariest of the three, it is arguably the funniest. And with the inclusion of Parker Posey in the cast, it makes for a fun and satisfying conclusion to a trilogy. The premise takes us to Hollywood, where "Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro," the third movie on the life of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), is in production. Soon enough, the masked murderer starts finishing off the cast--- in the order of their deaths in "Stab 3." These events reunite Sidney with former deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette)--- now a technical advisor on "Stab 3," and hotshot TV personality Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox Arquette)--- now an anchorwoman of her own show, "Total Entertainment." The new killer seems intent on making his own version of "Stab 3." One of my favorite scenes involves the "Stab 3" stars--- Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey), who plays Gale Weathers in "Stab 3," Angelina Tyler (Emily Mortimer), who plays Sidney and Tom Prinze (Matt Keeslar), the actor playing Dewey--- trapped in Jennifer's house with the "real" Gale and Dewey, as the killer sends them news of their fates through fax. The killer prepares to grant mercy to only one of them, the new script says. The scene ends with one of them being blown up with the house. Though the movie doesn't lack on the scare factor, the best and most memorable scenes are the funny ones. Some brilliant scenes involve Posey following Cox Arquette around, imitating her, and claiming that "her Gale" is smarter, bitchier, and more aggressive. Their repertoire together is so fun to watch, it's like witnessing a scene from "Dumb and Dumber." What the hell are you doing? Cox Arquette asks Posey in one such scene. Being Gale Weathers, Posey replies. The movie has its shortcomings, of course. Use of sound effects were sometimes exaggerated and unnecessary. Most of the "Stab 3" actors had little to do, except be potential victims to the killer, especially in the cases of Keeslar and Deon Richmond, who plays a Randy Meeks substitute in "Stab 3." In fact, the only new face that the script allows to shine is Parker Posey. Neve Campbell's Sidney is also given less screen presence, and one can feel the loss. The story still revolves around her, but it seems that it's the Arquettes' time to shine. They, along with Posey, readily take the center stage. Lance Henriksen's part was never really established, and Patrick Warburton's turn as Posey's bodyguard was too short to be noticed. But SCREAM 3 doesn't fall short on good performances--- the Arquettes deliver their usual charming banter, Campbell manages to come through her few scenes less offensively this time (there was less whining in her voice), Jenny McCarthy, playing a world-weary starlet, delivers her clever performance with bimbo aplomb, Mortimer does the ingenue act to perfection, and returning "Scream 2" survivor Liev Schreiber delivers a delicious turn as the now-popular Cotton Weary, host of a syndicated talk show, who melts from lust to fear as the killer, calling him through his cellphone, puts on a sultry groupie voice and suddenly turns menacing. Director Wes Craven, probably sensing that the well-loved Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) will be missed, gives Kennedy a brilliant scene on tape--- delivered by Heather Matarazzo as his sister--- where he rattles off the rules that guide the final chapters of trilogies. It's nice to see familiar faces from the previous films--- Campbell, the Arquettes, Kennedy, Schreiber and Lawrence Hecht as Sidney's father, who was absent from the second installment. But the movie really belongs to Parker Posey. She, above all, makes this third one a satisfying conclusion to this "Scream"-filled ride.