Wayne's World (1992)

An instant classic

Wayne's World is directed by Penelope Spheeris. The film stars Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, and co-stars Lara Flynn Boyle, Brian Doyle-Murray, Robert Patrick, Ed O'Neill, Ione Skye, Chris Farley, Meat Loaf, and Alice Cooper. The musical score was contributed by Malcolm Campbell.

Wayne's World is based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name. Wayne Campbell is in his late twenties and still lives with his parents. Along with his best friend Garth, the twosome host a public access TV show out of his house's basement - usually humiliating their guests. At a rock music club, Wayne meets a singer he immediately falls for. Not long after, the twosome is approached by a TV executive who wants to broadcast their show to a wider audience - what they don't know that his goal is to exploit the show for financial gain.

This film is a classic - one of the few good films ever based on a Saturday Night Live sketch. The cast and characters, plot, music selections, and pretty much every other aspect of this film are perfect - and the end result is a classic for the ages.

Easily Wayne's World's strongest asset is its cast and characters. Mike Myers is brilliant as the title character - unashamed to still be living with his parents, having no future plans for life outside his public access show, and employing a razor-sharp wit, resulting in laughs around every corner. Garth, played equally well by Dana Carvey, is just the opposite of Wayne - largely silent and hesitant. And he makes this character all his own. The title duo steal the show from start to finish.

Other characters and cast members are no less talented. Tia Carrere is great as Wayne's love interest, a rocker woman who is as tough on stage as she is off. Rob Lowe is equally good as the corrupt television executive aiming to exploit Wayne's World. Brian Doyle-Murray appears as the arcade mogul who aims to sponsor the show, Chris Farley plays a security guard in his first major film role, and Robert Patrick even has a brief but memorable appearance reprising his Terminator role! By far the best member of the supporting cast is Ed O'Neill of Married With Children fame, who appears here is a psychotic donut store manager - it's a shame we don't see more of him, because this guy could just as easily have had his own movie in this role! Even Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper have appearances!

The plot of the film and the overall execution are very well done. Even though there are sexual jokes and mature humor throughout the film, it's never raunchy or over-the-top. It's more intelligent than meets the eye, but you don't have to be a genius to "get it." The movie even has a variety of jokes to help it appeal to viewers of all ages and genres of films. The fact that plenty of these jokes are unexpected doesn't hurt either - the movie feels totally original. Regardless of who you are, this is one of those movies that will inevitably make you laugh. Numerous scenes here are instant classics.

The music in the film comes from a variety of sources - the most famous piece of music featured here being Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody - which got a massive revival in popularity due to this film's success. Other contributors to the film's music include Black Sabbath (with Dio singing), Rhino Bucket, and of course, Alice Cooper (who actually appears in the film.) A great movie, and great music only adds to the experience.

The DVD release features a feature-length commentary track with director Penelope Spheeris, and although she pats herself on the back a few too many times, you'll still learn a lot of interesting stuff about the movie and its creation. Still, I wish they could have gotten Myers and Carvey to contribute to the commentary. The other noteworthy extra is behind-the-scenes interview footage with the cast and crew, also worth checking out if you're a fan.

Wayne's World is a classic. Funny, original, and featuring great actors playing great characters - what's not to love?

Thumbs up January 16, 2008

One of the 90's best comedies!

Wayne Campbell(Mike Meyers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) are two bogus rock geeks that are the host of a popular UHF cable station show called "Wayne's World", Ben Oliver (Rob Lowe) is a cable network executive that decides to make their public access show into a major TV show as it could give them great fortune and fame. Wayne falls for bodacious rock singer babe Casandra (Tia Carrea) and Garth falls for the girl of his dreams (Donna Dixon) at the Donut shop, unfortunately Ben wants to steal Cassandra from Wayne if he does not fail but will Wayne get his girl to help her career?

A most excellent and original comedy satire based on the popular SNL skit is one of the most popular cult comedies around. The film offers appearences by Ed O'Neil, Alice Cooper, Chris Farley and T2's Robert Patrick and some hilarious gags like Garth's dorkiness especially about Bugs Bunny and the pokes at product placement & pop culture alike. Tia Carrera has never been this much gorgeous before and the film has so many memorable quotes that comedy film fans will remember for a long time, this movie always puts a smile on my face and is a must see comedy that made Mike Meyers into one of America's best comedy actors.

This DVD contains great picture and sound with some enjoyable extras like audio commentary from the director, theatrical trailer and Exclusive interviews with the cast and crew. December 19, 2007

Bust a Gut Funny!

I have been watching this movie since I was young and everytime I watch it I can't stop lauging. It's a cult classic, my family and I can do whole scenes from the movie by heart. You have to like juvenile humor though, it is not a movie to be taken seriously at all. Great for an afternoon when you want to kick back and not have to think too much. You won't be disappointed. August 23, 2007

AGED

Wayne's World was funny in 1992, but now, not so much. The jokes and references are stale, and often redundant. What a shame. I thought this would be a timeless piece. I WASTED my money buying it, thinking that it would still be funny, but this has to be one of the most unfunny pieces of trash out there. DATED. August 1, 2007

Wayne's World

"Wayne's World" was Mike Myers and Dana Carvey's first proper movie, and features their characters Wayne and Garth. It's fairly entertaining, and it's the sort of film that can be watched a few times here and there with friends. It's got an interesting atmosphere, this film.

Wayne and Garth have a cable show, hosted from their parent's basement in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago. It catches the eye of a TV executive, who thinks it will tie in perfectly with a prospective sponsor, "Noah's Arcade". Wayne and Garth, who are a bit strapped for cash, jump at the contract, but soon discover that it is full of compromises. Will Wayne and Garth sell out? Will Wayne be able to escape his deluded ex? Will Garth get his dream girl?

The DVD menus are done like the menu of a cable TV network, which scrolls up and down when you select something. Kind of an odd look I thought. Special features include a director's audio commentary and interviews with the cast and crew, which was interesting. November 16, 2006

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