The Blu-Ray Dissection: Wayne's World 2
Posted by Chad Webb on 05.21.2009
How many times will you hurl by watching this great sequel? Click to find out!
Mike Myers: Wayne Campbell
Dana Carvey: Garth Algar
Tia Carrere: Cassandra Wong
Christopher Walken: Bobby Cahn
Chris Farley: Milton
Ralph Brown: Del Preston
James Hong: Jeff Wong
Kim Basinger: Honey Hornee
Kevin Pollack: Jerry Segel
Olivia d'Abo: Betty Jo
Directed By: Stephen Surjik
Written By: Bonnie & Terry Turner and Mike Myers
Theatrical Release Date: December 10, 1993
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Running Time: 95 minutes
Rated PG-13 for ribald humor.
The Film
By all accounts, Wayne's World 2 is a poor sequel. It is essentially the same silliness as the first movie, only this time Christopher Walken is the evil Producer instead of Rob Lowe. Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed the sequel slightly more than the original film. The first Wayne's World remains one of the best spin-offs from a Saturday Night Live sketch. Not only did it make Mike Myers the star he is today, but it still holds up with age. Both films have one thing in common, which is the desire to make the viewer laugh.
Maybe the Wayne's World movies are uninteresting to kids today. It could be perhaps that you needed to fit a particular niche at a particular time to really appreciate Wayne and Garth's shtick. I would understand if the duo lost their appeal for some. I was a teenager during the release of both films, and I remember the theaters being packed. The combination of great rock music and cleverly random gags made both experiences thoroughly entertaining for yours truly. I bought both movies on VHS, and when it came time to update for DVD, I did just that. They are easy to watch, and I have seen them both so many times that I really didn't need to re-watch it for this Blu-Ray release, but of course I did anyway.
A year has passed in the life of Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers). He's a little older. He's a little wiser. And he's starting to get hair in really weird places. He has moved out of his parent’s house and into a factory, complete with elevator and a parking place for the mirthmobile. He is still dating Cassandra (Tia Carrere), whose music career is gaining momentum. She now has a new Producer named Bobby Cahn (Christopher Walken), who may be interested in more than just her career. Wayne and best friend Garth (Dana Carvey) are faced with a decision on what they plan to do with their lives. Wayne decides to put on a concert, or rather a festival, and he is calling it Waynestock. He enlists the help of Del Preston (Ralph Brown), an old roadie experienced in such matters. He was given this idea in a dream where he was visited by late Doors frontman Jim Morrison and a weird naked Indian. Although the concept of a rock festival is neat, Wayne discovers it is not easy to pull off. At the same time, Cassandra is slipping away from him, and Garth is busy juggling women of his own. Somehow he must find a way to make it all work out, but hey, we know we'll get the mega happy ending.
Fans of SNL knew the comedic potential of Mike Myers, but the Wayne's World franchise showed the world, and put him firmly in the mainstream. After this film, Myers could have done just about anything. He was ready for stardom. Instead, he took a break, for 4 years, and then gave us Austin Powers. It wasn't until 54 that Myers exposed his range as an actor, but Wayne's World 2 is responsible for augmenting his appeal. His sense of timing and delivery vastly improved between these two films, and that is another reason I think its superior.
His co-star, Dana Carvey, returns as Garth Algar, and in this movie, he finally gets pubes. Carvey did not receive nearly enough to do in the first film. Luckily, that was rectified here, as some of the most zany, yet hilarious sequences involve Garth and his new woman, Honey Hornee (played by a scrumptious Kim Basinger). When questioned about his fondness for music, Garth asks, "Do you have any Megadeth?" The morning after he and Honey are first "together", we see Garth's hair flattened and groomed, while he wears a robe and smokes bubbles from a pipe. Priceless. Olivia d'Abo plays Betty Jo, the female version of Garth, and although this sounds lame on the surface, the fact that neither performer overdoes it, makes it effective.
It does not tarnish the quality and allure of the characters because they prefer rock music, wear jeans, T-shirts, and use words like "hurl" regularly. Myers and Carvey make sure that they reach out to various ages simply by being likable guys. They might be lazy and have no direction in life, but they are proud of that, and happy for being so. Take Observe and Report as an example. Ronnie Barnhardt is a prick whose sole purpose is to inflict pain and damage. Wayne and Garth host a talk show for free from their home and are quite content gliding through life all the time. Audiences might not verbally respond to this, but it does make a difference in how that film resonates over a period of time.
Like any Saturday Night Live inspired romp, this is filled with priceless supporting characters and cameos. Ralph Brown's strange Del Preston was my personal favorite. We first meet him when he is hanging upside down, and he claims that it adds 10 years to your life. He learned it from Keith Richards. He is also obsessed with M&M's, and he can seen separating them by color in jars. He is more random and unpredictable with each scene, but that is part of his charm. Christopher Walken is outstandingly cunning and malicious as Bobby Cahn. He begins by barely acknowledging Wayne and Garth, as if to gradually sweep them out of Cassandra's life. His dance sequence with Tia Carrerre pops into my mind whenever I hear Bad Comapny's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love."
The dream/fantasy moments with Jim Morrison will strike everyone who has not seen Oliver Stone's The Doors as odd. I didn't see that movie until years after I saw Wayne's World 2, and then finally got the joke. I love so many scenes in this movie that it’s hard to pick the best. Two stick out. We meet Cassandra's father Jeff Wong, who turns out to be very particular, and advanced in martial arts. What follows is a spoof on every kung-fu film with bad sound effects and poor dubbing, and it is uproarious. The other is the training for the roadie positions. Chris Farley, who could fall funnier than any human being in history, does so in this movie and gets pelted with tennis balls in the process.
On a bit of a side track, I have to say that Wayne's World 2 ruined my experience with The Graduate. It is widely known as a classic, but I can't watch it without laughing because the entire conclusion of Wayne's World 2 mocks the ending of that Dustin Hoffman coming-of-age drama. And who didn't love Charlton Heston's brief appearance as the gas station attendant? It was a risk for Myers to employ so many gags that required the viewers to see other films to fully appreciate them. I admit a small part of me is biased at liking this because the primary band mentioned is Aerosmith, which has long been my favorite group, and they fit in well with Wayne's universe.
Stephen Surjik is the director, but it might as well be Mike Myers. To Surjik's credit, I am sure he was adept at keeping the situation under control, and lending a helping hand, but this is not a franchise known for the filmmaking skills. Surjik started out by directing television, got a break with Wayne's World 2, and then returned to television, where he has remained ever since. He does little to expand or improve the work from Penelope Spheeris from the first film, and it is this lack of originality that hurts this sequel. This flaw is not limited to one party, but Surjik deserves part of the blame.
What both Wayne’s World adventures have in common are great soundtracks, featuring a splendid mixture of classic rock tracks. I think they serve as excellent introductions to great bands and artists.
Wayne’s World 2 was not groundbreaking or overly spectacular, but it was and still is a worthy sequel. Aside from the fact that Wayne cannot get away from villainous producers vying for Cassandra’s affections, this is an entertaining comedy with quirky new characters and more superb antics from a memorable duo. Chances are, if you grew up adoring the first film you’ll probably find something to love about this one as well.
The Video
Unfortunately, most Blu-Ray releases of films from this era are disappointing, including the video transfers, which offer very little improvement from the previous standard versions. Both Wayne’s World films, especially this one, present a wide array of colors and vivid visuals that cause the quality to stand out, but it is nothing mind-blowing. The detail and clarity has been enhanced slightly, but most of the texture is just average at best. The flesh tones and black levels are fine, and I detected no visible grain or other defects. This is a 1080p, 1.78:1-framed anamorphic widescreen transfer that has been given a little boost, but not the best treatment possible.
The Audio
The sound department has been improved and updated to a satisfactory position. There is a definite difference between the audio of this version and that of the standard DVD. This one is more comfortable to the ear, and feels more natural overall. The music and soundtrack comes across as terrific with the Aerosmith concert and additional songs. The dialogue is completely lucid and understandable, I heard no distortion, and my volume knob rested at a fair level. The formats included here are TrueHD 5.1 Surround in English, and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in French and Spanish. This also has subtitles in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
The Packaging
Wayne's World 2 is distributed in a regular slimline blue case, the same ones all Blu-Ray discs are housed in. Inside is a firmware reminder sheet. The menu screens are easy to navigate.
The Extras
Audio Commentary - This track is with Director Stephen Surjik and was recycled from the first release. This is a rather ordinary commentary, and it would have been better to have Myers or anyone else from the cast involved, but this is better than nothing. He discusses the normal topics like the making of the film, working with the cast, and that kind of thing. Some inevitable moments of dead air occur since Surjik is by himself, but this is still worth a listen if you are going to the trouble of buying the Blu-Ray edition.
Extreme Close-Up (14:06) – Also recycled from the standard release, this extra is basically a condensed “Behind the scenes” or “Making-of” featurette that covers all the regular areas like how the project began, cast and crew info, interviews, and more.
The Film: 8.0/10.0
The Video: 8.0/10.0
The Audio: 8.0/10.0
The Packaging: 7.5/10.0
The Extras: 5.0/10.0
The 411: The reception of the Wayne’s World franchise is simple to describe. You have those who did not care for either, those thought the original was pretty good and hated the sequel, and last but not least is the group who loved both films. I fall into the latter category obviously. Though I would not argue with anyone who disliked Wayne’s World 2, I think I have made a strong case as to why it deserves a second look now that a few years have passed. Most of the Blu-Ray releases of films from the 90’s are sub-par overall. This is no different unfortunately. The audio and video have been improved somewhat, but is it enough for an upgrade? Since the extras have been recycled, and since these movies are now available in a nice double feature standard edition for a cheap price, I say it depends on how much you love the films, but if it were me, I’d stick with the copy I already owned.
