MacGruber (2010)
VERDICT:
8/10 Handymen
The best thing that’s happened to SNL since lazy Sundays and dicks in boxes.
MacGruber is about a legendary ex-Green Beret/Marine/starting college QB that specializes in making life-saving inventions out of household materials who comes out of retirement to take down the billionaire-turned-terrorist that killed his wife before he unleashes a nuke on US soil. The only problem is that, despite his badass demeanor, MacGruber’s a freakin’ idiot and makes getting the job done a hell of a lot harder for him and his team than it has any reason needs to be.
Yup, it’s based off the SNL skit of the same name and, I gotta say, I’m effing flabbergasted that they managed to get a full-length script out of this thing. There was really no story to be had other than “let’s just make fun of MacGyver in three one-minute intervals”, and while the story here isn’t much to write home about either, it works like a Swiss watch for what the crew’s trying to accomplish.
MacGruber is a stupid, crude movie that doesn’t have a whole lot to say outside of how ridiculous the ’80s were, but it’s stupid done right and that goes a long way. A lot of it boils down to MacGruber acting like he’s the shit and then proving himself to be a complete moron in one life-and-death situation after another, and that’s a solid formula in itself, but there are a handful of running gags involving seemingly insignificant interactions like someone cursing at MacGruber from their car or MacGruber carrying around his vintage Blaupunkt stereo at all times that never get old no matter how many times it comes up.
It’s endlessly entertaining watching MacGruber try to whip up exceedingly useless crap with stalks of celery, large brown eggs and whatever the hell else he can get his hands on, it’s just a well-written script that totally plays into how ridiculous it all is and gives its cast a lot of choice stuff to work with.
On that note, I hope Will Forte starts going places after this because he is a riot as MacGruber. He plays up the smug bastard shtick to a tee and just watching the guy swear like crazy and contort his face to the point where it looks like his head is gonna explode a la Scanners is funny the first time and stays that way throughout. Can’t say Forte’s ever been one of my favorite SNL cast members, but he’s definitely moving up the ranks.
Ryan Phillippe’s decent as MacGruber’s non-idiot sidekick, Lt. Piper, and even though he seems like an odd fit for most of the movie, I never really pegged him to submit to such humiliating behavior with a smile on his face. It’s not like Jeff Daniels blowing an o-ring in Dumb and Dumber, but points to the guy for loosening up and taking it in stride. Kristen Wiig’s not bad either as MacGruber’s other sidekick/possible romantic interest, Vicki St. Elmo, but I’m getting tired of her whole soft-talking bit that she always does. Still not really sure what the hype around her is about.
And a nearly unrecognizable Val Kilmer’s pretty amusing as our terrorist, Dieter Von Cunth. The story of how him and MacGruber went from friends to rivals is still making me giggle like an idiot.
So if you’re like me and you think that the MacGruber skit is one of the best things SNL has going for it along with the Digital Shorts, then you’re good to go, you’re gonna have a fuckin’ time with this one. But I know a couple folks who don’t like the skit, saw this anyway and still found themselves howling like lunatics throughout, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Awesome!
Man, I really have no idea why this movie has 50-something percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes right now because I saw this on a full stomach and nearly started dry-heaving from laughing so hard. It really is that funny, it’s a borderline 9 to be honest and along with Get Him to the Greek, 2010 is shaping up to be one damn good year for comedies. Been a while since SNL had a good movie to associate with.
And if you wanna get an idea of Will Forte getting intense, check this out.
Cut The Crap Movie Reviews 
I kinda worried from the trailer that this might be a one-note comedy, though the trailer had one of the ebst laughs I’ve had in ages.
“I’m like a three-wire guy… Oh, there’s a green! Awww, there’s like a buncha green!”
The trailer had me expecting something totally worse. Still, I’m going to need to give this one a try.
I was surprised too, man. Really good stuff.
Val Kilmer.. never made a bad film
Questionable statement, but he’s got his moments.
Batman Forever. Case, closed.
Iceman + shirtless + volleyball + 8 other shirtless guys playing volleyball. Double case closed.
10th and Wolf – case fucking closed.
Never even heard of that one.
Wrong. MacGruber was a Macsnoozer. Here are my deeper thoughts on it … http://pablochiste.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/macgruber-macsnoozer/
Seriously? This is good? Colour me shocked and slightly pleased.
I know. It really was.
Aiden, I feel part of the disconnect between you and the rest of the world on this one may stem from this statement:
“it’s a borderline 9 to be honest and along with Get Him to the Greek, 2010 is shaping up to be one damn good year for comedies.”
Specifically that middle part – I was under the impression that the rest of the world thought like I did and saw Greek as a shitty FSM follow-up. I hope I’m wrong – it does appear to have a few moments of the funny, but I’m far from looking forward to it.
On the other hand, I’m pretty much with you on Grubes. Not an 8, but perhaps a 7 and definitely a rewatchable 6. I went in with little-to-no expectations and walked out pretty happy. Could have done without a bit of the toilet humor, but by and large I was pleased. Definitely in the so-stupid-its0funny category.
I’m tellin’ ya, man, I caught Greek a couple weeks ago and it was freakin’ hilarious, far more so than the trailers make it out to be. You’ll see, Fletch. Oh you’ll see.
I never thought this movie would be a huge hit, but it had cult hit written all over it — I am a little surprised it bombed as badly as it did at the box office, especially since there was surprisingly good early buzz on this.
I have yet to see it — but it looks right up my alley based on your review here.
Hahaha, yeah, it was a good’n alright. Surprised at how divided everyone has been about it along with how atrociously it did at the box office, but I couldn’t stop laughing, man. I don’t know what that says about me or the rest of the world, but I recommend it. Hope you dig it too.
This is the shittest film I’ve ever seen! Fucking bollocks!
I highly doubt that’s your real name. Otherwise, your parents blow. But all the same, I feel like I’m in the minority on this one even if I did laugh my ass off. Sorry you hated it, pal. You never have to suffer through it again.