It’s always fun to realize that a movie you watched dozens of times back in high school and college is now celebrating its 30th anniversary…NOT! That’s right, Wayne’s World made its theatrical debut back in 1992 and is now receiving a 30th anniversary Steelbook for fans and collectors to commemorate the occasion. Paramount absolutely nailed the Steelbook design that highlights front and back what so many of us took away from the film – loads of memorable quotes! It’s actually been, oh, I’d say about a decade since I revisited Wayne and Garth, but once the show began it was as though something triggered in my memory banks and without missing a beat I was delivering lines in unison with them as though it had only been a day.
The Steelbook is the film’s signature orange, which is great as it really pops and helps set it aside from the original blue that saw Wayne and Garth jettisoning into the atmosphere from their couch. The image of duo is the same, but now they’re surrounded by quotes from the film instead of clouds and it’s great. Just glancing at it and reading one of the lines causes it to playback in your mind and really just makes you want to watch the movie again. It’s a smart idea that’s well balanced from corner to corner, and instead of feeling too busy even though there’s barely any space left untouched by movie lines, the case just begs to be read with a smile.
The back of the disc has Wayne and Garth front and center once again, this time partying on as they leap into the air for a freeze frame shot that’s usually followed up by the credits rolling. Instead, this places them in a perfect spot to once again compliment the front and showcase the characters first and foremost while cramming even more quotes in for your reading pleasure. Don’t worry, they’re not ribbed. Ewww…
With so many fantastic scenes to choose from for the interior of the Steelbook, Paramount decided to go with an image from the superb recreation of the Laverne & Shirley TV show. The shot fits perfectly, with Garth on the left, and Wayne on the right, both looking off into space, their hands resting together under their chins, as though the world is their oyster. It’s a hilariously random scene in the film, and is the perfect choice to wallpaper the interior of this release.
It’s crazy to realize that it’s been 30 years since Wayne’s World was released, and even crazier to think back that it was Mike Myers big screen debut. It’d be just five years later that Myers would bring to life another iconic character of his in Austin Powers, and then four years after that he’d make history once again voicing the lovable ogre Shrek – all while becoming one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood! One thing all three of these movies have in common is that they all hold up incredibly well today.
Wayne’s World is just loads of fun, and the chemistry between Myers and Dana Carvey (Garth) is undeniable, as is their comedic timing and perfect delivery of the lines throughout. There’s just so much to love with this movie that it’s hard to pinpoint parts of it as examples. If I attempted to pick out some of the best bits I’d basically be writing the movie out from start to finish because it’s all gold. It’s a film that wasn’t afraid to be random and confident with the type of comedy it was delivering, and that’s apparent when watching it again all these years later. Everything just works, and the comedy and jokes are timeless, which is what any movie hopes for but often can’t predict.
Now, I am aware that the film is 30 years old and that I do have to understand that there are a couple of generations who – while they’ve likely heard of it – simply may not have seen it. I do get the Laverne & Shirley joke likely won’t hit as well with them (okay, that and the Terminator 2 bit, which should still work but it was definitely just added in as a quick poke at the prior year’s biggest box office draw) but outside of that Wayne’s World is just a movie that if you haven’t seen it, you must see it. It’s without question a classic that deserves this quality Steelbook anniversary release, and while a remastering would’ve been “zang!” this repackaging of the original Blu-ray release is still an absolute must-own for Wayne’s World fans. Party on!
Blu-ray Video and Audio Review
The Blu-ray delivers a solid 1080p transfer that’s clear enough to never cause visual distractions, though it’s also not as sharp as some may have hoped for a 30th anniversary release. With no remastering, this purchase for those who already own the Blu-ray will simply be for the Steelbook (which is worthwhile) and we’ll just have to hope that we do get a 4K or at least a remastering down the road. As a whole the visuals are fine, and there’s nothing to really complain about – there’s just also nothing to write home about either.
The audio side of things sees a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that much like the visuals is fine and works well enough that there aren’t any real complaints. Don’t expect too much from the surround sound, as the movie is fairly simple on the audio front. The dialogue is clean and clear, which is great, and the soundtrack is solid and works harmoniously with the dialogue and effects, so nothing is ever drowning out something else. All in all this is a disc that delivers what you’d expect from a Blu-ray while never shooting above.
Special Features
Director’s Commentary – It would’ve been absolutely fantastic to have had Myers and Carvey come back for a new commentary track, but that’s a wish list item and just may not be plausible. That said, this commentary track with the film’s director, Penelope Spheeris, is top notch and shouldn’t be missed by fans if you’ve yet to listen to it. She gives lots of insight into the filming of the movie, as well as some backstory of how Wayne’s World came from SNL and many other fun tidbits. It’s clear she had a blast on set and has lots to talk about the experience here for us to enjoy.
Extreme Close-Up – This is the meat and potatoes of the features, and comes in at just over 23-minutes in length. While Myers and Carvey never gave us a commentary track, they do give a lot of insight into the filming of Wayne’s World here. Rob Lowe also gives a lot of fun insight, including how little Myers knew about making movies or being on a set when shooting began, with this being his first feature. While it’s delivered in 4:3 and a low quality 480p this is still an awesome watch that no fan of the film should miss.
Theatrical Trailer
Paramount Pictures Presents Wayne’s World Limited-EditionSteelbook. Directed by: Penelope Spheeris. Written by: Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner. Starring: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Brian Doyle-Murray, Lara Flynn Boyle. Running time: 94 minutes. Rating: PG. Limited-Edition Steelbook Blu-ray Released: Feb. 1, 2022.
About Brendan Campbell
