ViewGuide

Created Jun 21, 2014 10:33AM PST • Edited Jun 25, 2014 11:28AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   The original Wayne’s World was and is a great movie. It’s been repeated and overexposed since, coming on top of originating as a popular SNL sketch featuring Wayne and his even funnier friend Garth Algar. Fortunately it recaptures more than a little of its power when you’ve been away from it for a decade or two. And what power it had: catchphrases galore, a legendary singalong, extraordinary air guitar performances.

   Mike Myers briefly became a superstar as Public Access Wayne, boosted by Dana Carvey’s inspired Garth. Together with a cleverly cast set of characters behind them, they made a throwaway pop culture comedy that actually stands the test of time. Party On Wayne! Party On Garth!

   Catchphrases? Let us count a few.

   • Babelicious and Babe-raham Lincoln
   • We’re not worthy!
   • …Not
   • Party On Wayne! Party On Garth!
   • Mental
   • Excellent!

   Ok, not all of those originated with Wayne’s World, but all got a boost from it, which is excellent enough.

   Mostly, Wayne’s World lives on as a terrific send-up of comfortably extended adolescence, which parties on to this day in Chicago, Toronto and most every city in the Western World.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Mike Myers went from TV to the silver screen in Wayne’s World, setting off a decade plus of major stardom that led to his equally popular Austin Powers movies. He ultimately ran out of gas, but his resolutely ebullient Wayne Campbell remains a first rate comedic creation.

   Dana Carvey’s Garth was a simply brilliant creation: endearingly odd and touchingly vulnerable. Plus he was damn funny.

   Excellent Supporting Cast

   • Rob Lowe put his pretty boy looks to great use as a venal TV producer. Excellent casting!
   • Tia Carrere’s career peaked as Wayne’s babelicious rocker girlfriend. She was super hot and even performed her own numbers.
   • Brian Doyle-Murray was an ideal straight man as a middle-aged businessman. Colleen Camp was appropriately bleached as his wife.
   • Lara Flynn Boyle was appropriately attractive and unhinged as Wayne’s ex-gf.
   • Donna Dixon easily met the criteria to be Garth’s Dreamwoman
   • Frederick Coffin is one of those instantly recognizable character actors, here as Officer Koharski
   • Meat Loaf cameos as Tiny, the guy in front of Wayne at the metal club.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Really Great 4.5

    Director Penelope Spheeris injected an impressive amount of filmic brilliance to elevate Wayne’s World above most as-seen-on-TV comedies. To wit, subtitles that get way ahead of the spoken dialog are simply a brilliant touch: too funny and increasingly LOL. The clever and funny multiple endings are another.

11. Direction Really Great 4.5

12. Play Perfect 5.0

    Mike Myers, we were plenty worthy of your first great comedic creation, but kudos nonetheless.

13. Music Perfect 5.0

    The Bohemian Rhapsody singalong that Wayne, Garth and their buds engaged in instantly entered the pop culture pantheon, and continues to boost affection for Queen to this day.

    But there’s much more in the Wayne’s World jukebox, such as Dana Carvey’s hilarious dance to Hendrix’s Foxy Lady seen in the nearby video.

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

    Mild, not wild: not a bare breast, bong or F-bomb in the entire PG-13 movie. Mike Myers and director Penelope Spheeris entertainingly pulled those punches, for instance, having Myers engage in a bed romp with a fully clothed and babelicious Tia Carrere, while flashing “Gratuitous Sex Scene” on screen.

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Gentle 1.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.1

21. Reality

    Glib 1.6

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.3

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Natural 1.0