Though he is more known for Shrek, Mike Myers is no stranger to hollywood. Mike Myers versatility is demonstrated by his breakthrough role as Wayne Campbell alongside his buddy Garth Algar in Waynes World (1992)
Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch, Wayne’s World (1992) starred Mike Myers as Wayne and Dana Carvey as Garth, and it belonged to that run of 90s teen comedies I thought were beyond criticism when I was young. Alongside Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, these felt like the best comedies ever made. They were our comedy: Generation X teenagers writing the bible of humour.
Does Wayne’s World hold up?
Wayne’s World was my favourite, and that’s exactly the problem now. I watched it so many times, especially in my twenties, that every gag is burned into my memory. I know the punchline before it lands. Maybe that’s partly my own autistic wiring, but either way it isn’t the film’s fault. The jokes are victims of their own success.
And the jokes are good. The film takes the piss out of itself, out of Gen X movies and out of the media, and many of its observations still ring true today. The product-placement gag is still one of the best satires of sponsorship ever filmed. The catchphrase-driven humour makes it predictable on repeat viewings, but watch it once and you’ll almost certainly enjoy it. At around 95 minutes, it also has the good grace not to outstay its welcome.
Is Wayne’s World worth watching today?
I still love Wayne and Garth, but I’m 53 and no longer the target audience, so I won’t be going back. If you want a gentle, easy laugh, give it a go. And if you’re under 30 and wondering what we watched back in the day, this classic 90s comedy is worth seeing, even if only as a museum piece.
Verdict: A sharp, funny time capsule. Brilliant the first time, less so the twentieth.
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