Makinga truly great comedy sequelis very challenging, as humor is an aspect of cinema that can be very hard to replicate. Although not every comedy sequel is an all-time disaster in the vein ofCaddyshack II, Beverly Hills Cop III, Airplane II,orZoolander 2, they often don’t do enough to differentiate themselves from their predecessors.Wayne’s Worldwas itself a surprise success, as it proved to be the best film inspired by aSaturday Night Livesketch sinceThe Blues Brotherswas released over a decade prior. WhileWayne’s Worldwas a tremendous exception of an unorthodox premise,Wayne’s World 2is a hilariously madcap adventure that brings out the best inMike MyersandDana Carvey.
As great as the first film was,Wayne’s Worldsimply expanded the narrative of the original sketches while offering some commentary on corporate ownership and artistic autonomy. Although it served as a great way to ground these characters in an offbeat, yet familiar version of the world,Wayne’s World 2has a more ridiculous premise that sees Wayne and Garth having to create their own legacy. While it would have been very easy for the sequel to simply replicate the plot of the first film and go for the easiest jokes imaginable,Wayne’s World 2incorporated surrealism, music history, and homages to various aspects of film history intoa sequel that manages to outdo its predecessor.
‘Wayne’s World 2’ Has a Hilarious Plot
Wayne’s World 2stars by retaining the stakes of the first film, as it establishes thatWayne and Garth have become media sensationsand are now forced to cope with the responsibilities of having a significant influence over an audience of loyal fans; ironically, this may have mirrored the struggle that Myers, Carvey, and producerLorne Michaelsfaced when justifying making a sequel so quickly after the first film.Wayne’s World 2puts pressure on both Wayne and Garth to prove that they are not “one-hit wonders” that are doomed to be forgotten but also shows the desire they have to honor those that laid the ground for them. This results in Wayne taking advice from the mysterious ghost ofJim Morrison(played in an amusing cameo byMichael A. Nickles), who inspires him to create a musical festival inspired by Woodstock, which he refers to as “Waynestock.”
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One of the best aspects of the firstWayne’s Worldisthat despite the comic tone, the film has a genuine respect for musical artists.Wayne’s World 2expanded the franchise’s soundtrack to different eras of music; while the incorporation of Morrison was a clear parody ofVal Kilmer’s performance inOliver Stone’scontroversial biopicThe Doors, there is also an extended gag in which Wayne, Garth, and their friends recreate the famous “Y.M.C.A.” music video byThe Village People. Those watching at the time may have viewed these as clever, cheeky gags that captured the cultural zeitgeist; retrospectively,Wayne’s World 2serves asthe perfect encapsulation of the state of the music industry in the early 1990s.
Although the film incorporates even more elements of fantasy that break logical barriers,the emotional core ofWayne’s World 2is surprisingly strong, as Wayne is forced to prove to Cassandra (Tia Carrere) that he is worthy of her affection and capable of being responsible within a long-term relationship. Similarly, Garth adjusts to having to step out of Wayne’s shadow when he is tempted by the evil seductress Honey Hornée (Kim Basinger). AlthoughWayne’s World 2allowed both of its stars to step outside of their comfort zones, it also acknowledged that the first film had succeeded based on the strength of their interactions with one another; considering thatCarvey and Myers haven’t worked togetheron another film sinceWayne’s World 2, it’s even more valuable to celebrate the last dosage of their amazing chemistry.
‘Wayne’s World 2’ Features Better Gags
Wayne’s World 2features a far better villainthanks toChristopher Walken’s hilarious performance as Bobby Cahn, a producer who wants to both marry Cassandra and take over Wayne’s show. WhileRob Lowewas an amusing antagonist in the first film because he was completely incompetent and couldn’t understand why Wayne and Garth were successful,Walken created a legitimately scary villainwhose charisma and knowledge of the entertainment industry was far greater than Wayne’s. Walken, a veteran ofSaturday Night Livewho has appeared in many of its most iconic sketches, was the perfect choice to play a ridiculous protagonistthat forced the film’s heroesto be in a more vulnerable situation.
Wayne’s World 2benefitted from a wider variety of popular culture referencesthat weren’t just linked to the recent past. There is a great moment when Wayne and Garth drive off a cliff that hilariously recreates the iconic ending ofThelma & Louise; however, there are other scenes that homage scenes from the“Golden Age of Hollywood,”including a parody ofThe Graduateduring Wayne and Garth’s wedding anda subplot involving Garth in the midst of a noir adventure that pays tribute toDouble Indemnity.Smart casting also helped make these references feel more impactful;Charlton Hestonwas able to parody his own legacy with a great cameo, and the appearance of the legendary character actorJames Hongserved as the perfect way to honor the legacy of East Asian action cinema.
Wayne’s World 2expands on everything that worked about its predecessorbut also subverts expectations by letting Myers take on ever weirder storylines. Although the film decimates the fourth wall with no shortage of meta jokes about its own production,Wayne’s World 2alsodares to make Wayne and Garth characters that are worthy of emotional investmentand reflects on how the purity of their friendship is more important than any tangible success. The return of Myers and Carvey for a potentialWayne’s World 3would certainlyresult in blockbuster success, but it’s hard to imagine that it could topWayne’s World 2as the best installment in the franchise.
Wayne’s World 2
