They just don’t make movies like that anymore. This is an often spoken phrase when faced with today’s movie industry where there is barely any room for anything that is not a massive blockbuster, an Oscar-aspiring film, or small indie movies, which is why on its 30th anniversaryWayne’s Worldfeels as fresh as it did in the 90s, as if not a single day had gone by.
Running on a $20m budget, the film was indeed the sort of oddity it still is to this day, however,Wayne’s Worldwas not the firstSaturday Night Livespinoff requested by Lorne Michaels after the success ofThe Blues Brothers, yet another pop culture icon. So how come is it that this incredibly sillycomedyholds up so well even in 2022, and why is it so hard to replicate its success that even its sequel failed?
RELATED:LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Should Include One Hilarious Kylo Ren Element
A Dumb Movie Made By Smart People
Despite its cult film status,Wayne’s Worldproduction process was far from a walk in the park since the entirety of its cast was riddled with off-camera conflicts.Mike Myers may indeed be the comedic geniusbehind similarlyludicrous humor pieces such asAustin Powers, yet the star’s judgment was not at its best during the time of filming his breakout movie performance.
Director Penelope Spheeris has expressed her qualms over assuming filmmaking duties back then, when the landscape for mainstream female directors looked even more deserted than it is today, and at the heart of it all was Myers being a difficult actor to work with. Myers has even been singled out for his initial opposition to the way the “Bohemian Rhapsody” car scene was executed, by farWayne’s Worldmost iconic moment in modern day culture, and yet the entire movie benefits from Spheeris managing to push her vision to make the film -mostly- the way she wanted it to be.
AlthoughWayne’s World 2disappointing follow-up proves how integral Spheeris was to the film’s success, the truth is that almost everyone brought something to the table, whether it was the movie helping Rob Lowe rescue his career, Dana Carvey serving as a counterweight to Myers, and Spheeris securing a real musician like Tia Carrera played Cassandra.Wayne’s Worldis obviously so much more than the sum of its parts, but the number of comedy icons that are featured in the film rivals practically any other movie from the 90s.
Sure,Wayne’s Worldlove making the audience laugh by using outright dumb jokes, but what truly elevates it is the smarter remarks when the characters break the fourth wall barrier to make fun of the ubiquitous product placements from that era. Pulling that off is no mean feat, and the entire creative team, as well as Myers deserve all the credit in the world for putting together its script.
Pop Culture At Its Finest
Wayne’s Worldfeatures great unique writing from start to end, nevertheless, what truly gives the movie its distinctive singularity is how it blends that with a constant flurry of references that somehow have aged pretty well. It’s quite possible then that the reason the movie accomplishes this is none other than it being the brainchild of a bunch ofSNLalumni back when the show was at the peak of its powers.
Look up anycompilation ofSNL’sfunniest skits, and plenty of humor pieces from the late 80s and early 90s are bound to make the cut, especially at least one or twofeaturing Myers and Carvey in the original Wayne’s World. Not only that,Chris Farley was a fresh facein the show during that time, and his inclusion in the movie is proof of just how bloated with talent the whole film is.
Beyond being a showcase for a vast selection of classic rock songs,Wayne’s Worldhas aged so well because Wayne is perhaps the best example of what in today’s internet culture would end up becoming a YouTuber or podcaster. Wayne and Garth story mixed plenty of beloved movie tropes, whether it’s the simple boy meets girl arc, the young entrepreneur being taken advantage of by a sleazy rich guy, or how a movie stemming from a skit that featured pre-recorded laughs transitions into a different style when that’s not around.
Would it be possible to make aWayne’s Worldin 2022? That’s highly unlikely.TheSNLmovie trick wore out very quicklyafter the film’s breakthrough (just ask the Roxbury guys), and even the late night show is having a hard time finding viewership nowadays. The good thing is that there’s no need to make a remake of it becauseWayne’s Worldis just as worthy as it was in 1992. Extra points if it’s the version with Wayne’s “Stairway to Heaven” getting cut midway when he’s trying his gorgeous white Fender.
