Wayne’s World (1992)
Introduction
Hello you. Make a cup of tea. Put a record on. Something loud, unsubtle, and vaguely embarrassing (Queen, obviously).
It's 1992. Thatcher is out, Major's in, and Britain feels bored. The charts are filling with boyband fluff, and irony is eating itself alive. Meanwhile, America throws Wayne's World at us, a film that pretends to be dumb, is proudly dumb, but ends up being a lot smarter (and a hell of a lot funnier) than it has any right to be.
Born from an SNL sketch, Wayne’s World is juvenile chaos. It's also a satirical punch in the face to corporate culture. No, really.
Plot Summary
Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar run a public-access TV show from a basement, riffing on music, girls, and everything stupid. A sleazy producer, Benjamin Kane, spots profit potential and tries to exploit them. Wayne and Garth sell out, realise they've sold out, and spend the rest of the film trying to sabotage corporate meddling, rescue Wayne’s relationship, and figure out how to have fun without turning into utter sell-outs.
Behind the Scenes
Director Penelope Spheeris clashed famously with Mike Myers, whose control-freak tendencies nearly drove her mad. Myers insisted on “Bohemian Rhapsody” over the studio’s preference for Guns N' Roses, even threatening to quit if he didn't get his way. He did, they relented, and a million headbanging car journeys were born. Spheeris didn't direct the sequel, unsurprisingly. Artistic differences or Myers’ tantrums? Probably both.
Why It’s a Must-Watch
Wayne's World skewers corporate greed long before irony became mainstream. It mocks commercialisation even as it cashes in on it. Clever, stupid, sarcastic, and sincere all at once, it anticipated how irony would eat itself alive.
It's funny. Genuinely funny. And God knows we need more films unafraid to laugh at their own bullshit.
Key Quote
"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"
-Wayne and Garth
For Fans Of
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Both films nail the absurdity and sincerity of youth culture without drowning in nostalgia.
Memorable Moments
The “Bohemian Rhapsody” car scene. Headbanging idiots becoming cultural icons in three minutes flat.
Garth's awkward seduction attempt, a cringe masterpiece.
Wayne and Garth mercilessly mocking corporate sponsorship on live TV, lampooning commercialism while being fully part of it.
Easter Eggs:
Alice Cooper’s surprisingly sophisticated history lecture backstage, written by Myers as a piss-take on rock-star vanity.
Meat Loaf as a club doorman, casually informing Wayne about bands and quietly stealing scenes.
A blink-and-you-miss-it Terminator 2 reference, complete with Robert Patrick reprising his T-1000 glare.
Why You Should Care
Wayne's World captures the last gasp of genuine pop culture irreverence before everything became commodified irony. It skewers selling out while being complicit in the act, a rare moment of genuine self-awareness from Hollywood.
Watch Wayne’s World because it makes corporate cynicism funny instead of depressing. Watch it because it’s a brilliant reminder that comedy can still punch upwards. Or just watch it because it's bloody hilarious, and we could all use more laughter at our impending cultural doom.
See you on down the road.
