Today’s quick review: Wayne’s World 2. Inspired by a dream, Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and his best friend Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) set out to host a concert in their hometown of Aurora, Illinois. To book the bands they need, they seek the help of legendary roadie Del Preston (Ralph Brown). Meanwhile, Wayne begins to worry that his girlfriend Cassandra (Tia Carrere) is cheating on him with her record producer, Bobby Cahn (Christopher Walken).
Wayne’s World 2 is a comedy that picks up one year after Wayne’s World. Wayne and Garth are still hosting their public access show, but Wayne wants to do something more with his life. Wayne’s World 2 keeps the likable characters, eclectic humor, and earnest love of rock music from the first movie but ramps up the ridiculousness of its jokes and story. The result is a comedy that’s often hilarious but lacks the first film’s grounding and consistency.
Wayne’s World 2 is a mixture of old and new. The sequel repeats jokes from Wayne’s World almost word for word, but it takes the story and humor in a different direction. Wayne and Garth are still front and center, but the movie focuses less on their show, their town, and their own unique ways of killing time. Instead, it opts for more elaborate gags, including running jokes, dream sequences, and lengthy parodies of other films.
Wayne’s World 2 gambles big on some of its more outlandish jokes. Whether the gamble pays off depends on your taste in comedy. Fans of the understated, character-driven humor of the original Wayne’s World may find the sequel too artificial for their tastes. Fans of Mike Myers’ more overt humor will have plenty to laugh at. For a comedy with a similar plot and sense of humor, try Hot Rod.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for absurd humor and a pair of talented leads.