“Classic MacGruber!”

The Scoop: 2010 R, directed by Jorma Taccone and starring Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe

Tagline: The Ultimate Tool

Summary Capsule: A MacGuyver wanna-be stops Val Kilmer from overacting

Justin’s rating: Mullet Power!

Justin’s review: The first question that MacGruber raises is: Should there be a statute of limitations on parodies?  I mean, when you’re a 2010 film based on a 2007 TV comedy sketch that lampoons a TV show that debuted in 1985 show, you may be stretching it.  Granted, MacGyver was always ripe for a few good pokes at its expense — that tends to happen when a series expects us to take a gun-hating troubleshooter who solved everything by flinging handfuls of SCIENCE! at it.  But I’m pretty sure that about 80% of MacGruber’s target demographic wasn’t even born when MacGyver was on the air.

The second question that MacGruber raises is: Saturday Night Live is still making spin-off movies?  I guess so.  Huh. I really thought this trend died by the late ’90s.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I probably liked most of SNL’s films more than the general populace, but they did sink in quality and relevance by the time The Ladies Man came out (which, incidentally, was the previous SNL flick, a full 10 years earlier).

The third question that MacGruber raises is: Was this really the single best current sketch idea for SNL to take to feature-length glory?  Not that I watch SNL… uh, ever… but if this is the case, then that just tells me I’m being a good steward of my time.

This movie is a cut-n-paste an action-comedy plot about a terrorist (Val “I sure got chunky!” Kilmer) with a missile in the USA, while the only person who can stop him is Charlie Sheen from Hot Shots! Part Deux.  No, it’s actually MacGruber, but the whole setup for this film comes straight from Hot Shots 2, which was not only a parody in and of itself but also was released in 1993. Seriously, did anyone from the MacGruber production team get the memo that we’re in a post-Jurassic Park era?

MacGruber is MacGuyver if MacGuyver’s gadgets never worked, he accidentally killed all his best friends, and he enjoyed showing his buttocks to a worldwide audience.  Otherwise, it’s spot-on.  MacGruber’s got some severe rage issues combined with extreme immaturity, which means that we swing on the pendulum between name-calling and throat-ripping.

So if you’ve seen one bumbling man-child careening through a plot, you’ve seen this.  The only question left is: Is MacGruber funny?

Yes and no.  When the film decides that it wants to be funny, it’s absolutely uproarious, such as a scene where MacGruber’s female associate has a breakdown in a coffeeshop because she’s hearing the (apparent) death of her friends via earpiece.  There’s probably enough comedy here to even recommend it, although with caution.  MacGruber unfortunately enjoys the blue comedy, which means a few wince-inducing scenes (particularly the sex scenes, which now cannot be erased from my memory without powerful sedatives) and several others that are crude without being funny in the least.

It won’t kill you to see this, and it won’t not kill you to not see this.  If that doesn’t get me a blurb on the back of the DVD case, I don’t know what will.

Intermission!

• Based on 10 sketches from SNL and commercials
• Cameos by WWE wrestlers Chris Jericho, The Big Show, Mark Henry, Kane, MVP and The Great Khali, and actor Derek Mears

Groovy Quotes

Piper: How’d you know I was wearing a bulletproof vest?
MacGruber: You’re wearing a bulletproof vest? Awesome.

MacGruber: Classic MacGruber!

MacGruber: Your god can’t save you, but I can.

Col. James Faith: They were nice funerals.
MacGruber: Yeah. What did you think of my eulogies?
Col. James Faith: Very touching. I might have cut back on the F-words a little.

MacGruber: Piper, there’s a big difference between winging it and seeing what happens. Now let’s see what happens.

If you liked this movie, try these:

• MacGuyver
• Austin Powers
• Hot Rod