Wayne's World 2

Wayne's World 2; comedy, USA, 1993; D: Stephen Surjik, S: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Tia Carrere, Christopher Walken, Ralph Brown, Kevin Pollak, Kim Basinger, Chris Farley, Charlton Heston, Drew Barrymore, Ed O'Neill, James Hong

One year after their misadventures, Wayne and Garth are still making their own comedy TV show, "Wayne's World". When Wayne has a dream in which Jim Morrison orders him to organize a concert in Aurora, he decides to make his own "Waynestock". However, his girlfriend Cassandra has an argument with him and runs away with producer Bobby while no band wants to sign on for "Waynestock". In the end, the bands eventually do show up and the concert is a success.

After the huge success of the first film, the authors expressly assembled a sequel a year later that is so faithful and true to the spirit of "Wayne's World" that is seems like a natural extension to it. Some critics complained at it, just like they do at every sequel, yet the only aspect where part II lacks is in crudeness and obscure jokes, which is a good thing, instead improving the story with a smooth structure, "concrete" jokes, elimination of some useless side-characters. Unfotunately, many scenes seem like a repeat of the 1st film, whereas the buddy chemistry between Wayne and Garth is lacking this time, since they are often isolated, and rarely hang out or interact like friends this time. Garth's subplot involving Kim Basinger's character feels almost like an intruder, and disappears just like that, and the parody sequence of "The Graduate" also feels kind of unnecessary. The subplot where Cassandra again falls for a greedy producer is a rehash of the 1st film, yet the whole main plot revolving around "Waynestock" is entirely original, at least two lines by backstage manager Del - the long monologue about how he broke into a Ceylon store with Keith Moon and David Crosby to get some M&Ms at night and the remark about Woodstock ("It rained all morning, and then it cleared up in the afternoon. And that's it, I almost remembered something else, but it's gone!") - are funny; Wayne's parody kung fu fight with Cassandra's dad is a riot; whereas Myers obviously loved the joke involving staring at a bureaucratic official's different eye colors so much he recycled it in "Austin Powers 3" with the "mole joke". The ending might seem slightly shaky, just like in the first film, yet Wayne's and Garth's antics and positive energy are simply indestructible, which is why it is a pity there was never part III of their adventures.

Grade:++