Videogum » Mike Myers

The Austin Powers Musical Is Getting Real

Kelly — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:05 +0000

We talked a tiny bit about the Austin Powers musical yesterday, and tossed around the idea of me and Gabe trying out for Mini Me and Dr. Evil, and we all decided that that was a great idea, and Gabe was like, “Count me in.” And I was like, “Already counted you in.” But yesterday it seemed like the Austin Powers musical was only a rumor that would eventually fade into the Hollywood rumor background noise because what? And also, nooooooo! But today is a brand new day. From The Hollywood Reporter:

Casey Nicholaw, who co-directed The Book of Mormon as well as the stage version of Elf, is in talks to direct the Austin Powers musical being developed by Mike Myers and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

Colin Callender, the former HBO Films president whose run included the acclaimed Band of Brothers and Angels in America, and partner Sonia Friedman are producing the musical, which will be set to the music of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello.

Oh, goodness. Those all seem like real things! The story goes on to say that musical will be a prequel to the movies, will take place in the ’60s, and “detail how Powers first acquired his mighty mojo.” (Elvis Costello did not make music in the ’60s though?) (I refuse to deal with ANY anachronisms within the Austin Powers series.) It’s always unfortunate when something that at first seems so ridiculous turns into something that seems like a normal idea, and it looks like this is turning that corner VERY QUICKLY, so can we all just pause for a moment and reflect on the basic idea of an Austin Powers musical? Like, a person doing a Mike Myers impression on stage? In a Mike Myers costume? And then singing a song? And saying “shagadellic”? And people paying so much money to see it, as if it’s not a thrown-together idea meant to squeeze the last few drops of juice out of a decomposing Hollywood fruit? THAT IS CRAZY. I’ve gathered together some materials to aid in our reflection before it’s too late and we’re all in line at the Playbill Fandago.

Austin Powers 4, Buddy, Yes!

Gabe — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:15:35 +0000

Mike Myers is planning on a fourth Austin Powers movie that he will write, produce, and star in. Smmmmmokin! Haha. Get it? It’s his catchphrase. See also: “Very funky, lady!”

Mike Myers To Play Pepe Le Pew In Live Action/CGI Movie

Gabe — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:45:36 +0000

Is it just me, or does every single piece of movie news these days sound like a deleted scene from the Tropic Thunder 2 DVD?

The Videogum Movie Club: Inglourious Basterds

Gabe — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:50:46 +0000

Let me just say, first and foremost, that I was wrong. I often am! I did not love Inglourious Basterds. I didn’t even really like it very much. But it was not the disastrous, self-indulgent, World War Grindhouse shitshow that I had anticipated. It was decent, actually! There were parts of it that were very good! Personally I found it way too long, and kind of boring, and I have other problems that I will get to in a second, but being too long and boring are not the kind of problems I thought I would have going into it. And I’m sure many people didn’t even think those were problems. I’m sure many people didn’t find it long and boring, but captivating and fun, and to those people I say: that’s a very respectable and understandable opinion! I don’t share it, but sure! I stand by my contention that based on the marketing, Inglourious Basterds looked like one of the worst movies of all time. I still think that’s true. But as it turns out, the movie they marketed was not the movie that Quentin Tarantino made.

Let’s talk about that movie.

Inglourious Basterds Snacke Proview

Gabe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:21:26 +0000

Because Quentin Tarantino was a “mentor” to the contestants on American Idol last night, whatever that means, some new footage from his upcoming Inglourious Basterds aired. Sure. Of course new Inglourious Basterds footage aired during what is basically a children’s show, because that is the perfect time to advertise a gory exploitation film about World War II vigilantes with ridiculously bad accents. This girl knows:

“Mommy, what is he hitting with that baseball bat?”
“That is a human head, dear.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Oh, no sweetie, it’s OK. It’s a Nazi’s head, so it’s good that he’s hitting him in the head with a baseball bat.”
“What’s a Nazi?”
“The Nazis were bad people who killed Jews.”
“What’s ‘Jews’?”
“They’re the people who killed Christ. We hate them too, but a little less than we hate the Nazis. Now go get the phone, it’s time to vote for one of these incredibly talented singers.”

Inglourious Basterds snacke proview aftear tha jomp.

Trying To Defend Inglourious Basterds Is Ridoucuolouus

Gabe — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:13:10 +0000

Just to follow up on yesterday’s post about the Inglourious Basterds trailer, which obviously is just a trailer and therefore not evidence enough for anything like a review of the film but is certainly, despite many Tarantino-apologists’ claims, sufficient for a declaration of whether or not a film looks good (or, as in the case of this film, like one of the worst movies ever made). Have you guys actually looked at the IMDB page for this thing? Mike Myers as General Ed Fenech? Samuel L. Jackson as the narrator? WE WILL TAKE OUR APOLOGY IN WRITING, THANK YOU.

To Razzie The Love Guru You Have To Have Seen The Love Guru

Gabe — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:48:10 +0000

It’s being reported this morning that Mike Myers’s The Love Guru has received the most nominations at this year’s Razzie Awards. From the AP:

Myers’ comedy flop “The Love Guru” led the field Wednesday for the Razzies with seven nominations, among them worst picture and worst-acting slots for Myers, Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley.

The number of nominations for “Love Guru” was appropriate given what a personal project it was for Myers, who not only starred but also co-wrote and produced the movie, said John Wilson, founder of the Razzies, an Oscar spoof that dishes out “dis-honors” for the lousiest stuff Hollywood dredged up the previous year.

Normally, I am of the opinion that the Associated Press, a news organization established primarily as an information resource, should refrain from editorializing on its subjects. In this case, though, I agree that the number of nominations for The Love Guru was “appropriate.”

Stephen Colbert And Jim Gaffigan’s Outtakes From The Love Guru

Lindsay Robertson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:59:01 +0000

People who saw The Love Guru, whoever and wherever they are, said that the only funny parts were the scenes between Stephen Colbert and Jim Gaffigan, who played competing hockey announcers, one of whom (Stephen) is on peyote. The Colbert junkies at No Fact Zone went out and bought the Love Guru 2-disc set just for its five-minute Colbert/Gaffigan blooper reel — an act of self-sacrifice because it’s really funny:

When we speculated about Love Guru catchphrases based on the trailer, we could never have guessed that “Can you draw throbbing?” and “I don’t even think his balls want to be his balls right now!” would be contenders.

Love Guru Halloween Costumes Selling Like Love Guru Movie Tickets

Lindsay Robertson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:59:13 +0000

Save some money this year with a Guru Pitka costume, already 25% off. Aww. So mean. (Via Paul Scheer.)

Deepak Chopra Finally Breaks His Silence On The Love Guru

Gabe — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:27:04 +0000

Deepak Chopra, the Indian spiritual icon and successful self-help author has finally broken his long silence on his BFF Mike Myers’s racist disaster The Love Guru.

“‘The Love Guru’ didn’t work well because Mike Myers addresses a teenage audience, and he was trying to mix it up with metaphysics,” Chopra told MTV News. “Humor mixed with spirituality can work, if it’s done well. But frankly speaking, this was not a good attempt.”

The funny thing about this isn’t that Deepak Chopra saw The Love Guru, or that he has come up with his own theory about why the film was unsuccessful. It’s that someone in the media is still writing about The Fucking Love Guru. Is there really anyone out there who’s still trying to figure out why the Love Guru was horrible? We haven’t gotten to the bottom of that incredible mystery?

Do you see what I did there? I criticized people for writing about the Love Guru in a post about The Love Guru. It’s called a double-standard, and like all double-standards, the person accused of it doesn’t care.