Throwback Thursday: Wayne’s World 2 (1993)

The idea of not just one, but two movies coming out of a Saturday Night Live skit may seem like an impossible task. How does a writer take characters who are only seen for a few minutes on television and create a full-length film narrative?

It was done successfully in Wayne’s World (1992) and its sequel, Wayne’s World 2 (1993). Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) are dealing with two major issues at the same time. They are trying to put on a rock concert. While the concert is in limbo, Wayne’s rockstar girlfriend, Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere) has caught the eye of a record executive, Bobby Cahn (Christopher Walken). Bobby wants more than a professional relationship with Cassandra.

Like its predecessor, it is incredibly funny and remains true to its small screen roots. The references may be over the head of someone who was either too young or not yet born, but that can be overcome. I just get a kick out of watching a movie that is almost 30 years old and still makes me laugh.

My favorite part is the end scene which is essentially a throwback to The Graduate. It’s both true to its source while still being in the world of this narrative.

My only complaint (which is with many movies, both then and now) is that the women are confined to either romantic or sexual roles. While Wayne and Cassandra are dealing with their issues, Garth meets an older woman, Honey Hornee (Kim Basinger). Her name invokes everything the audience needs to know about her.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

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The Critics Were Wrong (Maybe)- Kull The Conqueror (1997)

In the late 1990’s Kevin Sorbo was the King of the scifi/fantasy genre. He was known at the time for playing the title character in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.  Hercules was schlocky, hokey and the writing was questionable at best. Instead of preventing type casting by playing an entirely new character in an entirely new genre, he went in even further. He dug his heels in Kull: The Conqueror.

In an ancient, faraway land, Kull (Sorbo) is a barbarian slave. Kull kills the old king in battle and is now the new king. But the old king’s heirs are not pleased with the upstart on the thrown. They resurrect the ancient sorceress Akivasha (Tia Carrere) to seduce Kull and kill him so they may take the throne for themselves.

If Hercules was bad, this movie is worse. Were the critics wrong? Absolutely not. If I were teaching film or screenwriting, this movie would be a perfect example of what not to do. It’s not even worth spending a rainy Saturday afternoon watching. I’d rather be outside in the rain than watch this waste of a film.

I absolutely do not recommend it.

Throwback Thursday Part II-Wayne’s World

Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World, Party Time, Excellent……

In 1988, via Saturday Night Live, we were introduced to Wayne Campbell  (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey), two guys who produced a  local late night cable access show from Wayne’s basement.

Four years later, Wayne’s World, the movie premiered. Reprising and stretching their characters, Wayne and Garth are still producing their show in Wayne’s basement via the local access cable network.  Wayne has been dating Cassandra (Tia Carrere) the front woman of an emerging rock band.  When Cassandra’s band is offered a record contract, by Benjamin Oliver (Rob Lowe), Wayne begins to suspect that he has ulterior motives.

This movie is incredibly funny and quotable. There is a reason why Wayne’s World is one of the best SNL skits in the show’s 30+ years on the air. I recommend this movie