There are few “instant classic” movies out there in the world. You know the type, from the moment it is released, there is something truly exquisite about it that makes it a film worthy of immediate as possibly adding it to the personal collection. But that was absolutely the case when a wickedly popular little SNL skit starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey became a movie and was released to the world on February 14, 1992.
To celebrate Wayne’s World’s thirtieth anniversary, Paramount Home Entertainment has unveiled a new Steelbook Blu-ray of the film that contains Carvey and Myers masterwork, as well as a bevy of bonus features sure to make every Wayne and Garth fan utter, “no way,” to their better half’s response of, “way!”
Wayne’s World possesses it all—longtime unshakeable friendships, a hilarious script that captures exactly what it was that made the pair’s Saturday Night Live’s skits must-see TV and also provides an endless stream of quotes that have only resonated with more force with the passage of time. The film is one of those classic comedies that one can watch a million times and witness something different each time. The script by Mike Myers (based on characters created by), Bonnie Turner, and Terry Turner is (schwing!) filled with countless quotes that unbelievably, do not feel old or dated.
That was the biggest surprise of my return to the World of Wayne. The screenplay feels as current as any of the teen movies proliferating our culture these days and that is due to the fact that Myers and Carvey are smart comedians and keenly know that nothing kills a film’s legacy than prose—particularly in the comedy realm. As such, the script by Myers, Turner, and Turner is tight and never attempts to bite off more than it can chew. Wayne’s World keenly knows what kind of movie it is and doesn’t even try to move too far from that lane. Kudos to them for that. Too many filmmakers and ensembles are not on the same page and don’t even share a belief system in terms of how a piece of art is assembled.
In Wayne’s World, Wayne and Garth produce a community access cable airing show that is about as much of an extension of the two men as can be presented. It centers on heavy metal music and …schwing… women.
When Wayne meets Cassandra (Tia Carrere), not only is she smoking hot, but she fronts a band and rocks! We were worried good old Wayne’s head might explode.
The guys have Cassandra and her band on their show, and the entire thing captures the attention of a certain television producer, Benjamin Oliver (Rob Lowe), that’s when things start to get real sticky and yes, slimily. Lowe is fantastic at playing the protagonist. He doesn’t have to be outlandishly evil, just the type of guy who would cut someone off on the road and not give it another thought. The Youngblood star was perfectly cast here as a man who makes moves on other people’s women and won’t hesitate to steal ideas right from underneath your nose.
One of the joys of Wayne’s World is its ability to lampoon everything from local to national politics to the institution of rock and roll itself. Nothing is above Carvey and Myers’ international ire. They even orchestrated what wound up becoming an iconic prank by simply saying, “sphincter says what?”
There is quite a lot of commentary on the state of the music business that is, sadly, as timely in 2022 as it was in 1992.
We find it interesting that Paramount chose to release Wayne’s World on February 14, 1992. That’s some serious self-awareness. It is not, by a longshot, the stereotypical date night movie—particularly for Valentine’s Day! But there is a love story at the heart of the World of Wayne. Actually, one could argue that the film is a love letter to rock and roll, celebrating oneself and being exactly who you want to be and there is nothing more romantic than a rock and roll dream fulfilled.
Penelope Spheeris directed the film (she of The Beverly Hillbillies and The Little Rascals fame) and the choice could not have been more sublime. There is something about timing and fate. Myers, Carvey, Carrere, Lowe, Spheeris, and even Alice Cooper came together to make a little movie that was a timeless comedy—sure—but above all else, was a passionate salute to the institution of rock and roll.
Wayne’s World banked $183M globally at the box office and spurred a sequel, Wayne’s World 2.
When it comes to bonus features, do not expect anything new.
For a subsequent viewing, definitely turn on the director’s commentary track and get a film school lesson in real-time from Spheeris. It is equally informative as it is entertaining. She shares some fascinating stories about Wayne’s World and its time on SNL that even the most hardened Saturday Night Live fan would not know about. She also makes a fantastic distinction in her commentary track. Spheeris talks about the difference between working on television and film and I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard it put so succinctly.
Extreme Close-Up isn’t simply a running gag in Wayne’s World, but it’s a terrific bonus feature. The 23-minute featurette finds the cast and crew recalling the origins of the characters, how the music was chosen, the difficulty filmmakers had ) features cast and crew recounting the origins of the characters, the music, the cast, the humor, shooting various scenes, Myers’ and Carvey’s improvisations, and more. Like the commentary, this is a solid piece that fans should thoroughly enjoy.
What it comes down to with this release is a simple question: Do you own Wayne’s World on Blu-ray? If the answer is “no,” then you must secure this 30th-anniversary version in all its Steelbook glory. The bonus features and extras are the exact same that was released on previous incarnations of this film for the home video market.
The latest edition of this Blu-ray also arrives in the exact same video resolution—1080p with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The deciding factor is simple, really. Wayne’s World is a film that should be in every cinephile’s library. If it is not in yours, then this 30th-anniversary Steelbook version is the cat’s meow and the perfect excuse to bring Wayne and Garth home.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: B+