MacGruber

In the proud tradition of such films as Wayne’s World and The Blues Brothers, MacGruber is the latest film based on a skit from Saturday Night Live.

A spoof of the old TV show MacGyver, this movie is crude and rude, but it’s also funny. And that’s what’s most important to know.

As played by Will Forte, MacGruber is an alleged military hero and explosive experts. Far from professional, he’s a childish man whose attempts to dismantle ticking time bombs are thwarted by something so trivial.

MacGruber’s arch-enemy, Dieter von Cunth (Val Kilmer) has just stolen a Nuclear Warhed for purposes most nasty. So, MacGruber and his allies, Lt. Piper (Ryan Phillipe) and Vicki (Kristen Wiig) must not only save the day, but keep our hero’s attention to the task at hand.

This movie, first and foremost, is delightfully ridiculous. Yes, MacGruber is obnoxious and immature, but Will Forte plays him with zeal. The most nauseating jokes that come from MacGruber’s mouth, or his actions, are instead validly funny as a result.

As for the other actors, it’s their interactions with MacGruber that allow them to shine. Val Kilmer as von Cunth is the perfect hammy villain, and Phillipe and Wiig make for the perfect “straight folks” who have to put up with MacGruber. And as MacGruber’s superior, Powers Boothe is perfectly serious and thus, delightfully out of place in this farce.

This is a film that takes the clichés of dumb 80’s action movies and makes them dumber. Not only dumber, but they are effectively funnier. It’s the enthusiasm that the actors, along with director and co-writer Jorma Taccone, execute on screen that makes MacGruber the mighty fine comedy it is.