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Love Guru Kills Austin Powers 4
I don’t know what happened to Mike Myers. The man is clearly talented beyond comprehension, has done some amazing work in his relatively short career (by that I mean he’s not 60 years old) and he’s given us some of the very best comedy and characters of our generation.
But then Myers decided to just disappear for all intents and purposes. Just over 10 years ago Myers launched Austin Powers, and then Shrek… and those two entities have basically sucked all the life out of him. Where did one of the best Saturday Night Live performers of all time go? Where did the guy who gave us “So I Married An Axe Murderer” vanish to?
I have a feeling that his little adventure as “The Cat In The Hat” about 5 years ago really hurt him. I know he was hoping for and expecting big things from that flick. The movie ended up losing money and got totally destroyed by critics and fans alike… word out there was that while he put on a brave face… it really hurt him. It was his first true failure.
Maybe that’s what made him fall back to his old formula. Maybe that’s what made him retreat back into the safe comfy Shrek realm? And maybe that’s why, when he was doing another new comedy (The Love Guru), it really just ended up being a slightly difference version of another comfy place for him… Austin Powers (Really… that’s what The Love Guru was).
The problem however, is that once you start going back to the well too many times… once you abandon your creativity and just rely on the formula you’ve created… you get stale. And The Love Guru was more than just stale, it was plain putrid. And worse than any other Myers movie in history… IT BOMBED. Less than $15 million opening weekend, with pretty much everyone hating it. OUCH!
Now consider this: Recently it was confirmed that Myers was developing yet another Austin Powers movie. Word was there was already a script and things were moving forward. Some people celebrated this news (After all, the first three were all pretty entertaining for the most part), while others thought it was a bad idea. Well… it looks like we won’t have to worry about it anymore, because with The Love Guru, a film so much like and in the same formula as Austin Powers, bombing so hard and failing so spectacularly…. I just can’t see any studio being willing to put up $100 million to produce it… and I also just don’t see how a lot of film goers are going to be willing to see it after The Love Guru.
So the question is: If the Mike Myers “Austin Powers” formula and schtick are now dried up… where does Myers go from here? Is he washed up? Are we indeed seeing the start of his downfall?
To me the answer hinges on what Myers does next. If he continues to try to beat the dead horse, then yes… he’s finished. But if he branches out again, takes some risks and gets away from the Powers formula, then I see no reason why he can’t return to glory.
I’ll be very interested to see how “See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked for Your Pleasure” turns out. Mike Myers is playing the one time drummer for The Who and it could be spectacular if done right. Time will tell… for now we’ll wait and see how Myers handles this latest failure.
He did Cat in the Hat after the SNL based character film Deiter movie fell apart.
He has to do some actual acting if he is going to save his career. Star in other people’s films, prove you got it. THEN go back to your own stuff… but not that old formula.
Perhaps Mike Myers needs to get together with Adam Sandler to star in a slapstick version of Star Wars directed by George Lucas. Oh, Eddie Murphy can play all the supporting characters of course.
The best indication something was amiss was not that long ago; the audience at the MTV movie awards had a big cheer when Myers and Dana Carvey reprised Wayne and Garth for the one skit. About halfway through, the bad taste jokes got old fast, and fewer and fewer were laughing. It was nice to see Wayne’s World one more time, but that was only for a few minutes.
So if indeed what I hear from ‘Guru’ is true and most of it is recycled gags from previous Mike Myers films…then all Myers has left is Shrek 4. Right?
Well, since you posted this John, and asked a question, I’m going to have to say yes Myers can branch out in fact, he’s done it already. He’s proved it! It may not have been the greatest picture, but his performance in ‘54′ stood out, and he got got heaps of praise for the role.
Other funnymen have crossed over into dramas. Robin Williams. Jim Carrey. And I thought Adam Sandler knocked it out of the park with Reign Over Me.
There’s room for Myers somewhere.
Myers and Farrell should star in a movie together. Any movie. Both of their careers are sinking fast. If they are going to go down – it might as well be for a way over the top balls out comedy as their swan song. Maybe something the Farrelly brothers can direct? They can also use Cuba as a “sidekick.”
once everybody realizes no one stays on top forever, the sooner we could all not be so shocked when these people make a “bad” or “outdated” or “creatively risky” film
Myers should really focus on some dramatic roles. He has plenty of cash (hell, those paychecks for the Shrek-movies alone provided enough to life in endless luxury till the end of days) so he doesn’t need financial success.
He was pretty good in STUDIO 54, I would be curious about that Keith Moon biopic. It would have to happen fast though, Myers is 45 years old now and Keith Moon died at the age 32.
Do it now Mike!
I’m with Mozzerino on this one. For all the crap Robin Williams has been in, he has transcended it by being recognised as a great actor (though he really does need to be picking better roles right now). There’s no reason to think Myers couldn’t do it too until we see him try and suck at it.
I’m not worried about him if he doesn vanish though. The guy made $10 mill from each Shrek picture so he’s ok for groceries for a while.
I couldn’t be more pleased.
After Austin Powers 3, Meyers completely eviscerated any kind of tolerance I had for him. The trailers and mugging for “Guru” did nothing but further enhance my delight at seeing this turd fail with a Number 4 debut and $14 million.
I’m convinced there’s still hope for America.
The thing is, why even do Guru, he should have just done Austin 4 and everyone would have gone just because it was another Austin movie. But I do agree that dramatic parts are the way to go for him.
Do I have to see the Love Guru to know its crap ? Lol Rodney.
(I guess to truly experience the crappy-ness, yes). Aghh
I agree that he should take a co-starring role his shtick is totally burnt.
As much as I love Dr Evil, let’s see something new Mike?
I agree with Darren’s comments on the quality of Mike’s acting 54, and the potential he has to shine like Robin, Jim, and Adam (given that he waits for a good script and director). When you get down to it, Myers is a gifted actor in the sense that he completely immerses himself in another character and truly becomes that other persona. Like most comedians, he seems to have a darker side to him that could be fantastic if coaxed out by the right role.
It doesn’t help when you are hosting the Movie Awards to pormote your COMEDY FILM and the funniest thing of the night was whenever Downey was onscreen. Every bit Myers did was PAINFULLY unfuny, Wayne’s World included.
There’s no need to go into dramatic roles. Myers doesn’t have to ‘prove’ he can do dramatic roles, to save his comedy future. He just has to find a project that will deliver what fans want.
In all honesty, Waynes World 3 and Austin Powers 4 would both be a better bet at this point. They may not be brilliant, original films. But they’ll make money, and that will make the studios happy, and that will give the studios confidence to let him then try something new and original.
Myers was on the ‘Opie & Anthony Show’ yesterday, and mentioned that Austin Powers III is not only possible, but would be more like “The first part of a Doctor Evil trilogy” and, “just needs to be written”.
I couldn’t agree more. Myers kind of missed it big with Love Guru and though there were times i loved the movie simply because Myers’ silliness just makes me laugh it did feel forced.
I have read that he did this character based on the time he spent with a Guru after his father died so this seemed like a movie he ws going to do no matter what. He should bounceback – hopefully!
I can’t see why people hated the love guru so much, it was good, people are just waiting for too much!
I know that Wayne’s World 3 & Austin Powers 4 would’ve been great, but changes aren’t always bad! He said it’d be coming, and people have to be patient.
Remember : Patience is a virtue.