Most of the youth-oriented buddy comedies that came out in the ‘90s aren’t fondly remembered today. Like, nobody seems to be going to bat for movies like Meet the Deedles, Dead Man on Campus, or Bio-Dome, the film that dared to pair Pauly Shore with one of the Baldwins.
But at least one movie starring two Gen X slackers has stood the test of time: Wayne’s World. Also, to some extent, Wayne’s World 2.
Why are Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar still beloved by 21st century audiences when so many other hugely popular pop-culture characters from the early ‘90s have totally fallen by the wayside? On the most recent episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast’s spin-off Superfly, Dana Carvey offered up a theory.
After discussing an AI-generated Tommy Boy video that he saw online, David Spade proposed that someone could take the same approach with Wayne’s World. “What about Wayne’s World 3, they go to Uranus. That would be like good Wayne’s World one,” Spade suggested.
“And then they would giggle.They’d say, ‘Let’s go to Uranus.’ And then they would laugh for like 90 minutes,” Carvey added.
While that obviously sounds completely terrible, the discussion did prompt Carvey to reveal that fans often ask him “what’s with Wayne’s World?” In response, he points out that the franchise, at its core, is about “the two biggest losers in town are the happiest people in town, because they ritualize every single moment in their life.”
“They’re in a good mood. People like to see people that are having fun,” Spade agreed.
Carvey makes a good point about the Wayne’s World characters; unlike some of the more aimless movie duos, they really do seem to find joy and structure in creating rituals for themselves, be it through taping their cable access show or hanging out at Tim Horton’s Stan Mikita’s Donuts.
And that sense of ritual is also what helps to make the movie’s most iconic scene so great; when Wayne pops in a cassette of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” we get the sense that this is something that he and his friends have done many, many, many times before. Yet they are still clearly having the time of their lives.
In retrospect, that sense of comfort and routine is an interesting story choice. Wayne and Garth are mostly quite happy at the start of the movie, the only thing Wayne wants, but is unable to obtain, is a vintage Fender Stratocaster. So when the pair sell their show to corporate interests, they’re only doing it for the money and to attempt to meet some external idea of success. It’s not because they themselves aren’t already fulfilled.
We enjoy the characters from Wayne’s World because, despite being huge dorks, they’re completely comfortable with themselves, happy just to be together, and have an established community of friends and fans that support them.
And while that world is challenged by slimy, unscrupulous businessmen from time to time, they always get their comeuppance in the end. Just like real life… not!
Content shared from www.cracked.com.