PARTY TIME, EXCELLENT!
Wayne’s World turns 25
Break out the coffee and crullers because it’s party time for Wayne’s World fans: the irreverent smash comedy is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Yes, way!
Canadian comic actor Mike Myers teamed with Dana Carvey to portray suburban, metal-loving slackers Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar in the popular Saturday Night Live sketch that inspired the 1992 movie adaptation and its 1993 sequel. The film centres on Wayne and Garth’s public-access talk show and the efforts by sleazy yet suave network executive Benjamin (Rob Lowe) to make a slicker, big-budget version of Wayne’s World. Benjamin also has his eyes set on another target: Wayne’s rock-star girlfriend Cassandra (Tia Carrere).
The film is stacked with lighter moments in the form of impromptu sing-a-longs, zany riffs on classic TV shows and films, memorable catchphrases (“Schwing!”) and comical cameos from the likes of rocker Alice Cooper and Terminator star Robert Patrick.
Cineplex will host screenings at select locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax Tuesday to coincide with the silver anniversary of the movie’s release.
You many not have known these facts about Wayne’s World: BOX OFFICE BONANZA: Fans were clearly feeling the love for Wayne’s World when it debuted Feb. 14, 1992. The Valentine’s Day release soared to No. 1 in its opening weekend. By year’s end, it was the No. 8 film overall, grossing more than $121 million. It remains the topgrossing SNL spinoff of all time. FROM CANADA TO CHICAGO: Coscreenwriter Myers drew inspiration from his upbringing in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough.
Wayne’s World was reportedly supposed to be set in Aurora, Ont., with doughnut shop scenes at Tim Hortons. But in an effort to Americanize the production, the screen locale was transported to the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Ill., complete with a fictional hangout: Stan Mikita’s Donuts. FLASH OF FARLEY: Chris Farley landed his first film role in Wayne’s World — but blink and you’ll miss him. The late comic actor and former SNL star had a brief appearance as a security guard at an Alice Cooper concert.
Farley made a return in the film’s 1993 sequel. ALL IN THE FAMILY: Carvey found inspiration close to home for his portrayal of Garth: his real-life brother Brad.
“We both eat red licorice and we both like video and we both play the drums,” Carvey told People Magazine in a 1994 interview.