Wayne's World (1992)

Schwing Time

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Wayne's World on DVD

No one was more surprised than I was that not only did this "Saturday Night Live" sketch work as a film, it worked twice, and uproariously both times. Mike Myers and Dana Carvey star as the formidable Wayne and Garth, the hosts of their own basement TV show. In the first film, they deal with the sleazy Rob Lowe to get a shot at the big time, and in the second, Wayne attempts to launch his own concert called "Waynestock." (Charlton Heston has a great cameo!) Though they appear to be brain-dead comedies, the films at least have a little something to say about American suburbia in the 1990s -- a specialty of director Penelope Spheeris. Spheeris supplies a great commentary track for the first film, though Stephen Surjik took over directing second film and not much can be said for the commentary. (This review refers to the Wayne's World DVD two-pack released in 2001.)

Starring: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Brian Doyle-Murray, Lara Flynn Boyle, Donna Dixon, Chris Farley, Meat Loaf, Ione Skye, Robert Patrick, Alice Cooper
Written by: Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
Directed by: Penelope Spheeris
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sex related dialogue
Running Time: 93 minutes
Date: August 9, 2001