horror and science fiction DVD and movie reviews and previews from curledupdvd.com - curled up with a good dvd
Blu-ray reviews and previews from curledupdvd.com - curled up with a good dvd
DVD reviews, previews and info - blu-ray
 
         
 
  action movies on DVD
  animation on DVD
  art house and international / foreign language films on DVD
  comedies on DVD
  documentaries on DVD
  dramas on DVD
  children's and family DVDs
  horror and sci-fi on DVD
  suspense on DVD
  television series on DVD
  Blu-ray DVD reviews
   
 
Google

   
   

Wayne's World - Blu-ray DVD / comedy DVD review
WAYNE'S WORLD Rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America curledupdvd.com rating: 3 1/2 stars
Featuring: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Lara Flynn Boyle, Michael DeLuise
Director: Penelope Spheeris Studio: Paramount
DVD release: 12 May 2009 Runtime: 95 min.
(1 disc)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, Blu-ray
DVD features: 1080p High Definition, Aspect ratio 1.85:1, Audio tracks (Dolby TrueHD 5.1 - English; Dolby Surround 2.0 - French; Mono - Spanish), Subtitles (English SDH, English, Spanish, French, Portugese), Commentary (dir. Penelope Spheeris), Wayne's World Extreme Close-up, Theatrical trailer HD

Remember a time before you knew who Mike Myers was? To me, Mike Myers was the killer in Halloween; now he's the international man of mystery, Cat in the Hat, and Shrek all rolled into one. Wayne's World is what launched him into the international spotlight and made him a household name.

Wayne's World started life as a simple couch skit on Saturday Night Live. Wayne Campbell (Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) would broadcast their public-access heavy metal fanboy show from the couch in Wayne's basement, and that's where the film begins. Wayne and Garth do an episode of their irreverent show in which they make fun of their guest, then they head out on the town in the Mirth Mobile, a 1970's powder blue Pacer with tongues of flame painted on the sides.

When Wayne and Garth hit the local rock club, they are known by everyone there and they enjoy a certain celebrity. At the club, Wayne becomes smitten with guitarist Cassandra (Tia Carrerre). She rocks hard and she can take care of herself. Wayne wins her over with his quickly learned Cantonese and his sense of humor.

Wayne's show catches the eye of Benjamin Kane (Rob Lowe), a schmaltzy producer and ad man. Ben takes Wayne and Garth out for drinks and gets them to sign a contract to take their show to the big time. Ben also looks to get Cassandra under contract (and more), so there you've got some conflict: Ben, the good-looking producer-type, looking to get all he can, and Wayne trying to keep ahead of the curve and do more for his girl with what skills and knowledge he has.

Wayne's World is really a funny film. The main story is pretty by-the-numbers and not much that hasn't been done before. What is worth catching is all the minutiae that make Wayne's World fun. The way several of the characters break the fourth wall and talk directly to the camera. When the psychotic donut guy Glen (Ed O'Neill) does it, Wayne quickly corrects the camera into following him again. There's a scene where, as Wayne objects to the idea of selling out, he places obvious products in front of the camera, displaying the items like a show model.

Wayne's World knows it's being goofy, and the fact is celebrated in nearly every scene. There are three endings - a real-life ending (meh), a Scooby-doo ending (in which Benjamin is unmasked), and the over-the-top Hollywood ending (in which everything turns out with wildly positive results). After the third, the audience is taunted by nearly the whole cast into buying it.

Wayne's World catapulted the career of Mike Myers and his sly sense of humor (and it brought Queen's operatic Bohemian Rhapsody back for another well-deserved round in the spotlight). Myers' sense of humor has been pretty steadily with us since (with the possible exception of The Guru), and while we don't all remember the funny details of the film that made us love it back in '92, it leaves a memorable bright spot in our memories. It's time to see it again.

The Blu-ray edition of Wayne's World offers a nice picture (although just a little muddy), an original trailer, and a making-of featurette left over from an earlier DVD release. It's not too compelling if you already have the DVD, but if you don't, go for the Blu. It'll look better on your TV.
 
  buy this DVD now or browse millions of other great products at amazon.com
 
 
   
 
   
reviewed by Eric Renshaw
   
         
    action | animation | art house/international | comedy | documentary | drama | family | horror/sci-fi | suspense | television    
    browse DVDs alphabetical by title    
    contact | home