Wayne’s World 2 *** (1993, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Christopher Walken, Tia Carrere, Chris Farley) Classic Movie Review 9447

Director Stephen Surjik’s 1993 comedy Wayne’s World 2 is a less raucous, more amiable and more accomplished sequel to the 1992 Wayne’s World, though also much less popular at the box office.

This time the legendary Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) stages the rock festival Waynestock, a sequel to Woodstock, with the help of the spirit of Jim Morrison (Michael A Nickles) and a naked Indian (Larry Sellers) – ‘If you book them, they will come’ – while Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) gets to make love to Honey Horneé (Kim Basinger), who is only doing it because she wants him to kill her husband.

There are as many movie spoofs as rock homages this time, even taking in The Graduate as Wayne rushes to the church to the tune of Mrs Robinson to prevent his girl Cassandra Wong (Tia Carrere) from marrying wicked pop promoter Bobby Cahn (Christopher Walken).

There are plenty of easygoing laughs, particularly of recognition, as we clock up the parodies (including the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park of course and the 1991 Thelma and Louise) and take in the guest stars (Charlton Heston as Good Actor, Al Hansen as Bad Actor, Drew Barrymore as Bjergen Kjergen, Heather Locklear as herself, Jay Leno as Jay Leno). But there are also a failure to develop individual comedy set pieces much beyond the original gag, a lack of impetus to drive the story along, and a fizzle of a finish.

As Wayne and Garth, Myers and Carvey seem more genial, and more targeted in their comedy than before, while Walken and Basinger do their welcome turns, but are a bit lost.

It is all very showbizzy and cosy for a celebration of teenage idiot culture, which may be why it disappointed at the US box office, likeable and amusing though it is.

It cost $40,000,000 and grossed $48,197,805 in the US, whereas the original cost $20,000,000 and grossed $121,697,323 in the US.

Also in the cast are Olivia D’Abo, Chris Farley, Ralph Brown, Ed O’Neill, Harry Shearer and James Hong, as well as Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer from Aerosmith.

Wayne’s World 2 is directed by Stephen Surjik, runs 94 minutes, is made by Paramount Pictures, is released by Paramount Pictures (1993) (US) and United International Pictures (UIP) (1994) (UK), is written by Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner, is shot by Francis Kenny, is produced by Lorne Michaels and is scored by Carter Burwell, with Production Design by Gregg Fonseca.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9447

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