Movie and Television Reviews

The Love Guru got a whopping 15% positive reviews from rotten tomatoes, once again proving that Asymmetric remains the repository of cinematic truth.

For, The Love Guru is a wonderfully funny movie, in a way.

It's about Maurice Pitka, a Deepak Chopra wannabe who is enlisted by the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs to heal the love-damaged hockey superstar Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) enough to win the championship. To do so, Maurice must take Roanoke's estranged wife, Prudence Roanoke (Meagan Good) away from Jacques "Le Coq" Grande (Justin Timberlake) and reunite her with Darren. Maurice must do so without compromising his principles and learn to love himself enough to make love.

A study in contrasts.

We're not supposed to take the plot too seriously as evidenced by the director's quick resolution of the story threads. We're supposed to focus on Mike Myers. The Love Guru is, in fact, Mike Myers. Mike Myers acts here similarly to the way he does in Austin Powers; that is, he doesn't. Austin Powers isn't any recognizable 60's spy- he's Mike Myers. Maurice isn't a character- he's Mike Myers. Like Will Farrell's jokes in his movies, Myers can make the gags in Guru in any movie- in any setting.

Who is Mike Myers? An original comedian who traffics in, yes; phallus, ball, fart, and booger jokes; but with such a breezy nonchalance, such uniqueness, that it's funny. Booger jokes can never be funny?

Mike Myers is also a brave comedian. For many, a "brave" comedian is one who insults the people he himself hates. Notice the rapture with which reviewers discussed the intrepid Harold and Kumar's attack on George Bush, the WOT, and rednecks. Reviewers also liked Zohan better than Guru. Not so coincidentally, Zohan also takes on rednecks (Rednecks, corporate CEOs, and the religious are the last three acceptable mass prejudices.).

Mike Myers lampoons Indians.. Not in the lustily hateful way Hollywood takes on Southern conservatives, but still, he makes fun of them. Why? Because they're inferior or stupid? No. For the most benign of reasons: they're different. They dance funny. They ride on elephants. So what? If you feel guilty, vote for Bobby Jindal when McCain picks him for vice president. That's what I'm doing.

It also makes fun of the French, hockey, and black people (It shows "inner city youths" playing hockey on concrete and makes fun of a sportsman's "posse."), and it uses "gay" non-positively, as a synonym for feminine..

Anyways, I laughed the whole time (and the audience applauded at the end). I liked the way he would bring up an inanely titled book whenever he would make a point. The Indian dancing is very funny. The rivalry with the midget is oddly sincere. Sue me.

Message/Politcs:

Maurice must maintain his guru integrity, which is kind of strange because the movie suggests that Guru worship is hogwash.

Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (New Line Platinum Series)