Wayne's World

Poster credited to worth1000.com

The elements that make a good comedy are so elusive. All of the right tools can seem to be there - great cast, writing, & directing - but more often than not it comes off flat. Of those that are enjoyable, many only have topical humor that makes sense when framed historically. Few seem to stand the test of time, and even then it is hard to divide that from the individual experience. Sense of humor is so relative. Because of this I think any review of a comedy should be taken with a grain of salt. The same holds for my review of Wayne's World. I realized I'd never seen this movie beyond youtube videos of the famous "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene. Netflix just added it to their Watch Instantly catalog and so I queued it up and gave it a go. It was a delightfully weightless bit of fun.

The main reason why I wanted to record my thoughts on it is because of the way it dealt with the story. Normally a Hollywood comedy is so burdened by over-emphasized plot points. It becomes heavy and you just sit there counting the seconds waiting for the inevitable to happen. For that reason I find that the best pure-comedies forego the story line and just let you lay out and soak in the atmosphere and personality of the movie. What makes a good comedy is that it is full of characters that you want to spend time with in a world you want to spend time in.

With Wayne's World I was a little worried at the start as Wayne & Garth (played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) were getting set up to fail as they enter what is obviously a raw deal in going corporate with their public-access TV show - the main struggle of the movie - but it never spent enough time on that to drag the movie down. It thankfully glossed over all the main plot setup, coasted through the second-act escalation, and jetted right on to a joyful finale. This left more time for all the real fun like constantly breaking the fourth wall ("Hey, only Garth and I can talk to the camera!"), making fun of contemporary Hollywood (writing out "Gratuitous Sex Scene" instead of showing it), and plenty of pointlessly fun exclamations (Party on! Excellent! Schwing!). I was in a constant state of feeling pleasantly surprised as I enjoyed the little quirks and random jokes that often don't get into movies today because they are trying to follow a formula (a formula established in part by the success of the 90's SNL generation movies like this one).

While it's definitely teenage and immature, it is relatively low on the low-brow humor that seems necessary in the current comedic landscape. Some of the Judd Apatow films are thoughtfully funny, but that's in spite of the intense language and bathroom humor rather than because of it (I'm sure there are plenty who disagree - but good comedy and drama shouldn't use the crutch of ridiculously obscene language). I mean don't get me wrong, every part of the human anatomy gets its fair shake (har har). But While Wayne's World certainly wouldn't be labeled as clean, it doesn't rely solely on dirty jokes (it's PG-13 - check out a Parent's Guide for more info).

Instead, what may turn some of the younger viewers away, if seeing this for the first time, is that many of its references are a generation or two old. The Laverne & Shirley sequence or the commercial spoofs just don't make sense if you haven't seen the source material - although with those carefree, goofy smiles on Wayne's and Garth's faces, you'll laugh anyway. But I think the fact that Wayne's World helped establish this type of comedy might just cross generational boundaries.

The one thing I would've wished for more of was the actual public access TV show. I know all the old SNL skits are online whenever you like, and the pull for many of these transfers to the big screen is the ability to find who these people are, but the real charm of this movie is just watching Wayne and Garth be themselves, little to no plot line required. Rather than seeing what happens to them, Wayne's World is just an excuse to hang out with them a little longer.

Book: American Gods (Tenth Anniversary Edition) - Neil Gaiman

American Gods is like a more adult-oriented version of Percy Jackson: a human gets pulled into the comings and goings of the world of the Gods in America. The main mechanism behind how the Gods got here is that they were all brought here by people emigrating from different parts of the old world, Africa, and even the land-bridge from Asia. The Gods, the versions of them that make it to and then stay in America, and how they are supported by a dwindling mass of belief in modern times, is what the book slowly shows you throughout its length.

The frequent interludes telling the stories of the immigrants are often the best part of the book, which is written in a deliberate yet intriguing style. I listened to the expanded 10th Anniversary version of the book, which included a full cast. The author himself, Mr. Neil Gaiman, speaks the introduction, the afterword, and many of the immigrant stories. He is the best audiobook reader I've encountered (go listen to his "The Graveyard Book", even if you've already read it). Of course, his British accent is great (I wish I knew how to differentiate between types of British accents - anyone know of a guide somehere??) and he's just so calm and purposeful as he reads.

This book is all about Gaiman's interpretation of America as a conglomeration of belief. The best representation of this comes in a speech by one of the book's best character's, Samantha Black Crow. Knows by fans of the book as the "I believe" speech, it reflects a culture that can paradoxically believe in many hypocritical maxims with all sincerity. Read that speech here.

I haven't even mentioned the main character yet. His name is Shadow and he is an along-for-the-ride kind of guy, slowly learning where his place is and what his existence is worth and what it means. Perhaps he could be a representation of your average American? It depends on what you believe.

Warning: Strong language throughout. Also a few graphic sex scenes - easy to skip over without losing much.

Books I read in 2013

Image courtesy of Nifty Swank

The demand for me to repeat my post from last year of what I read in 2012 has been so unbelievably, outrageously insistent and ravenous that I just can't hold back any more. It was a relatively low-read year. However, when you calculate in the 1400 pages of The Count of Monte Cristo, unabridged, 'actually fairly on par. (Note: I haven't actually calculated it, although I wouldn't put it past me).

1. To Have and Have Not - Ernest Hemingway
• I love Hemingway. So much. His writing is just soothing and melancholy and gently optimistic, if it can be all those things at once. This one is structurally unique for Hemingway and for novels in general, as it makes a dramatic switch in perspective in a later section of the book. Essentially it might be a treatise on the fact that how much you do or do not have to struggle for your daily subsistence does not necessarily directly affect your happiness in life. I then watched the movie, with a script written by William Faulkner. Those who have read it might ask, "How can you make a great Hollywood film out of such a book?" Faulkner's answer was the same of Hollywood today: take the main setting and characters and completely rewrite the story, then add big Hollywood actors (Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall). It was great.
2. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming
• This was such a fun read. My first James Bond thriller. Fleming has a great command of language that, although not as subtle and transcendent as someone like Hemingway, mirrors that great writer in how he interprets and portrays a strong-willed, passionate man with a quiet heart and a dry sense of humor. Don't get me wrong - Fleming is not making any really serious statements on the poignancy of the transient nature of life. He does show parallels bewteen gambling, love, and espionage that teach Bond a lesson or two. But it's a thriller through and through. It's fundamental, it's elegant, and it drives along by its style and not over-the-top melodrama. I loved reading it. See my full review here.
3. Trails to Testimony: Bringing Young Men to Christ Through Scouting - Bradley D. Harris
• This is pretty much a must for any LDS Young Men or Boy Scout leader. Other Scout leaders, especially religious-focused, may get some good things out of it as well. I was Assistant Scoutmaster and then Varsity Scout leader. It didn't last long as I had moved, but this book helps ease you mind a bit on the many, many tasks available in scouting, allowing a leader to focus on what they see as the most essential parts of the program.
4. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
• I just realized I never wrote my thoughts down on this. This was 6 months of reading. I was reading slowly but consistently - its not that the book was that hard to read - although it was large, as I read it unabridged. It was epic. It was entertaining and with lots of great lessons. I loved the interplay between the many different characters. Ultimately, though, I felt like it was kind of hypocritical. This guys goes through this entire life seemingly focused on revenge and enacting all these huge changes in others' lives, and then at the end we're supposed to believe he just changes and its all ok? I think I may have missed something here. I should review my notes. Thoughts?
5. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
• My first Kurt Vonnegut book was a great read. It was like Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" in its structure of blissful coincidence, but from a cynical point of view. I love his mini chapters, each of which is a witty little whimsical thought on its own and directs the timing and rhythm for both the story-telling and the humor. It was fun and thought-provoking.
6. The Fault In Our Stars - John Green
• I had really no expectations going into this book - I didn't know it was a teen book until I downloaded it (on Audible). I had noticed recommendations from a diverse range of people and the title was intriguing (I had no idea of the original reference). I'd been reading some heavier, dense, and less accessible books at the time so this was a refreshing change of pace. I was drawn in to the characters quickly and really enjoyed all the kids' distinct personalities. The love story between the two main characters is really well done in that it mostly develops slowly and deeply and is just a lot of fun to experience. And I love the quick-witted dialogue - although I don't know enough teenagers to know if there really are kids that are this brilliant and well balanced. Because, despite the situation they're in, they are pretty well balanced people - despite constant thinking of death, suffering, and pain. Of course, maybe that's the lesson. The interaction between Hazel and Gus is really the best part of the book. Check out the trailer for the movie coming out this summer. 
7. Ask Without Fear: A Simple Guide to Connecting Donors with What Matters to Them Most - Marc A. Pitman
• I'm a fundraiser by profession, although still early in my career. This was a nice little book read purely for professional development.
8. Moving in His Majesty and Power - Neal A. Maxwell
• Neal A. Maxwell was an LDS apostle, a member of one of the senior leadership councils of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love his style of writing and speaking. It's characterized by simple, but profound lessons garnered from casual stories from throughout his life and favorite readings.
9. I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
• Read this in a volume that is a collection of many works by Matheson, and don't look at page numbers. That way you'll be more surprised at when the book ends. While I don't think it's that noteworthy, I understand its historical and generic significance, and I love works that embody their title with a singular focus.
10. How Music Works - David Byrne
• A joyous exploration of just about every philosophic aspect of music. It has just about something for everybody. My full review here.

That's it. Have you read any of these? Let me know what you thought - I love to discuss it.