Wayne's World Chad'z rating: ***1/2 (out of 4 = very good) 1992, PG-13, 95 minutes [1 hour, 35 minutes] [comedy] starring: Mike Meyers (Wayne Campbell), Dana Carvey (Garth Algar), Tia Carrere (Cassandra), Rob Lowe (Benjamin Oliver), written by Mike Meyers, Bonnie and Terry Turner, produced by Lorne Michaels, directed by Penelope Spheeris.
"Wayne's World" is probably one of the most intelligent and creative comedies I've ever seen, which is quite an accomplishment considering how unintelligent the premise is. In short, this movie shouldn't be as good as it is.
The story revolves around Wayne Campbell (Meyers) and Garth Algar (Carvey), two guys who are really quite enigmatic. They're late 20-something "headbangers" who act like teenagers. They have their own cable access show "Wayne's World," but both still live with their parents. Maybe this premise seems a little cartoonish, even the first gag involves a vacuum placed on Garth's head as a hair cutting device. It doesn't seem like it should be funny, but Meyers and Carvey's improv is what makes the humor work. It's not sight gags and slapstick (a la "Pee Wee Herman"), nor is it wisecracks and one-liners, it's just a vivid establishment of an offbeat atmosphere.
And it's that offbeat atmosphere is what makes the film great. The mood constantly changes from straight comedy to offbeat satire, but it stays in synch, much like John Hughes' great 80s comedies. For example, when Garth is pushed around by a bully at a metal club, he goes back to his car and retrieves a tazer while the theme to "Mission: Impossible" plays. Meanwhile, when Wayne sees Cassandra (Carrere), a sexy, rockin' singer, the camera remains on her while "Dream Weaver" plays.
Since this is a commercial comedy there must be a plot to it. Rob Lowe co-stars as Benjamin Oliver, a typical, smooth-talking television producer who wants to buy "Wayne's World" and sell it to a sponsor, thus making it completely commercial and highly profitable. Most of the first two acts revolve around this plot, and although it does seem a little formulated, it doesn't become the driving force of every little event.
In fact, there isn't much direction to this film as a whole. It constantly skips around from setting to setting: sometimes Wayne and Garth are partying at the rock club; sometimes Wayne is wooing Cassandra; sometimes Benjamin is plotting something sinister, and all yet they are all connected.
By the final act, everything is going wrong for Wayne. He has been conned out of, and then fired from his own show. He also loses Cassandra when he suspects Benjamin of seducing her with opportunity. You know everything will be resolved in the end, but the actual ending sequence is completely original as it follows the cliches in a satirical manner.
From start to finish "Wayne's World" is a great, funny parody. The jokes always connect and never recycle themselves. The fact so much happens in this film (and so little as a whole) without a trace of burnout is quite amazing.
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