Wayne’s World arrived on a Limited Edition Blu-Ray SteelBook in honor of the film celebrating its 30th anniversary on February 14.
Produced by Lorne Michaels, the film is based on the classic Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. The film follows them as they try to promote their public-access cable show. A double-feature Blu-ray containing Wayne’s World 2 is also available with digital copies included.
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) are rock music fans, who record their public-access show out of the basement at Wayne’s parents’ house. They have the opportunity to take things to the next level when producer Benjamin Kane (Rob Lowe) happens to see their show on TV. There’s the classic performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which would be called back later on in the 2018 film.
You can see the differences in Wayne and Garth’s personalities. Wayne has no problem talking with women, be it ex-Stacy or Crucial Taunt vocalist/bassist Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere). After Wayne and Garth sell their rights to Benjamin, he gives them backstage tickets to an upcoming Alice Cooper concert so he can woo Cassandra for herself. This would prove to backfire on his part because they end up meeting a friend of music producer Frankie Sharp’s (Frankie DiLeo) bodyguard. Anyway, Wayne isn’t a fan of how things work when one is under contract. Wayne’s World now is now obligated to feature an interview with Noah Vanderhoff (Brian Doyle-Murray) but Wayne is having none of it. What happens is that Wayne ends up losing his job as co-host. In doing so, he ruins his friendship with Garth.
In classic comedy fashion, they change up the ending by breaking the fourth wall. After the first two endings appear on screen, we get the third and final ending. You can’t just have a comedy without a happy ending! I mean, you probably could but where’s the fun in that? Also, Wayne’s World features some commentary during the credits.
One of the funniest moments in the film is when they’re fighting back against doing sponsorship stunts on their show, there is no shortage of product placement! It’s one of those bits that works regardless of medium. Obviously, it would work in one of the many SNL sketches. But as a film, I love the satire of it all.
Behind the scenes, Myers and director Penelope Spheeris would clash with each other. It’s the main reason as to why the filmmaker didn’t return for the sequel. Myers didn’t like how she ignored his suggestions in the edit. Furthermore, this is all corroborated by comments in the Sherry Lansing biography, Leading Lady. If you think this is bad, wait until you read what Myers wanted for the sequel. It did not go well at all! Carvey also fell out with Myers, too.
Behind-the-scenes stories notwithstanding, Wayne’s World is one of the few SNL success stories. Not everything results in the same success as this film or The Blues Brothers. Produced on a budget of $20 million, the film earned just shy of $200 million at the box office. When you look at its impact and legacy, all you have to see is the list of words that made it into the cultural lexicon. Long before The Office, it was Wayne’s World that made “That’s what she said” a popular phrase. “Bohemian Rhapsody” became a popular song again–sadly, it came after Freddie Mercury’s passing. However, the Queen vocalist did get to see the head-banging scene before his passing.
Wayne’s World might be 30 years old but this film is just as funny now as it was back in 1992. That said, I’m not about to get into how well the film has aged in terms of what you can and can’t do now.
Bonus Features
- Audio Commentary by Director Penelope Spheeris
- Wayne’s World Extreme Close-Up: Exclusive Cast & Crew interviews
DIRECTOR: Penelope Spheeris
SCREENWRITERS: Mike Myers and Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner
CAST: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Tia Carrere, Brian Doyle-Murray, Lara Flynn Boyle, Alice Cooper, and Rob Lowe
Paramount released Wayne’s World in theaters on February 14, 1992.
Please subscribe to Solzy at the Movies on Substack.
