Both the Wayne’s Word films have their moments, and they represent a time when Mike Myers was still funny, before he came up with Austin Powers then ran out of steam and just went with guys with various dodgy accents as his shtick.
Don’t get me wrong Austin Powers films had their moments just they were few and far between. Maybe between the 3 they could scratch up one almighty Best Of Director’s cut featuring the best bits. From 3 they would only have to include Beyonce in any tight outfit, as long as she isn’t “acting” while wearing it.
The titular Wayne is a suburban middle class headbanger who never seems to work, never seems to remove his baseball cap and never seems to be without his sidekick, the bespectacled Garth (Dana Carvey). It must be said here that Garth provides a high % of the overall laughs over both films, though Wayne definitely has his moments too.
When I say Wayne doesn’t work he apparently has enough dosh to fund a small time direct to cable TV show called Wayne’s World, which has no set running sheet as Wayne and Garth simply seem to wing it from episode to episode. The show is actually pretty close to what you would envisage bone-headed late teens would make if they were gifted a show.
Despite this lack of organisation, or perhaps because of it the duo are minor local celebs to the teens as a result, this brings the attention of a slick TV producer Benjamin (Rob Lowe) who plans to use the show to plug his sponsor’s wares to a particular dopey but cashed up demographic.
What follows in both films is essentially a series of skits, some good, some not so good, but it is all lightweight and entertaining stuff.
Wayne has the good fortune of bagging Cassandra (Tia Carrerre) who is the hot lead singer of a glam rock band, from here both the first and second film follow the same formula;
In #1 Benjamin is a hot shot TV producer out to get his greasy paws on Cassandra and drag her from Wayne’s equally greasy clutches.
In #2 (I think Wayne and Garth would laugh at the #1 and #2 references) it is the slick music producer played by Christopher Walken.
Edge – #2. Walken kicks Lowe’s pretty-boy arse.
In #1 the cameos include Alice Cooper (funny) and Ed O’Neill (very funny).
In #2 it is Aerosmith (better band, not funny) and Ed O’Neill (still very funny but a smaller role) & Harry Shearer as a loser DJ (very funny), Drew Barrymore (meh) and James Hong as Cassandra’s controlling Dad (hilarious).
Edge – #2. Even without the “meeting Dad” scene the sequel wins, but that is a great scene.
In #1 Garth’s dream woman is some blonde chick. Hot but never speaks.
In #2 Garth bags Kim Basinger (for a while), in the 2nd funniest scene from either film.
Edge – #2. Basinger hammed it up, but there was no hamming up the hotness.
In #1 the finale had Wayne and Garth saving the show and getting back Cassandra.
In #2 the finale has Wayne and Garth putting on a major music festival (Waynestock – Natch) and stealing Cassandra back from the altar with the help of a weird naked Indian and the deceased Jim Morrison.
Edge – Oh who am I kidding Wayne’s World 2 is just better.
Both films are funny but 2 holds the edge in all major categories plus it has funnier skits and cameos. I didn’t even need to drag out the hilarious heavy metal roadie Del Preston to break the tie.
Wayne’s World Final Rating – 7.5 / 10. A funny film but a victim of its own notoriety, as most of the jokes that it spawned seem clichéd through overuse and repetition. “She shoots, she scores!”, “Exsqueeze me? Baking Powder?”
Wayne’s World 2 Final Rating – 8 / 10. Just a better film. This is hardly Godfather Vs Godfather 2 here but the sequel is more consistent and superior in every way.
