http://lebeauleblog.com/2012/10/03/what-the-hell-happened-to-mike-myer s/
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Mike Myers
TMC-4 — 13 years ago(October 04, 2012 11:14 PM)
http://lebeauleblog.com/2012/10/03/what-the-hell-happened-to-mike-myer s/
Mike Myers successfully made the transition from Not Ready for Prime Time Player to movie star. His characters and catch-phrases were inescapable. Myers wasnt just a comedian, he was shaping pop culture.
And then, he stopped. What the hell happened?
Myers first acting job was on a TV commercial when he was 10 years old. The commercial co-starred Gilda Radner, who was about to become a star on Saturday Night Live. In 1989, Myers would follow in Radners footsteps as a cast member of SNL.
Myers spent six seasons on Saturday Night Live developing popular characters like Wayne Campbell, Linda Richman and Dieter.
In 1992, Myers and Dana Carvey were tapped to bring the Waynes World sketch to the big screen. Trouble began immediately when Myers wanted to have Carveys character, Garth, written out of the movie.
Myers had originally developed the Wayne character as a solo character while performing with Second City. The character of Garth was added for Saturday Night Live. When it came time to take the act to the big screen, Myers wasnt interested in sharing the spotlight with Carvey, who was arguably the bigger star at the time.
Myers has developed a reputation for being, well, a demaning control freak. He started earning that reputation with his very first movie. Reportedly, Myers once stormed off the Waynes World set due to a lack of margarine for his bagel.
Director, Penelope Spheeris recounted to Entertainment Weekly, He (Myers) was emotionally needy and got more difficult as the shoot went along. You should have heard him bitching when I was trying to do that Bohemian Rhapsody scene: I cant move my neck like that! Why do we have to do this so many times? No one is going to laugh at that!
Eventually, the director assigned her daughter to babysit Myers and fetch his snacks.
To th111cis day, I have this image of her sitting on this little cooler, looking at me, like, Mom, I fing hate you, said Spheeris.
In spite of the trouble behind the scenes, Waynes World was an unqualified hit.
Myers followed up Waynes World with the romantic comedy, So I Married an Axe Murderer in 1993.
Other actors who had been considered for Axe Murderer included Woody Allen, Chevy Chase, Albert Brooks, and Martin Short. When Myers agreed to star, he insisted on re-writing the script to better suit his sensibilities.
This resulted in a law suit with the original screen writer, Robbie Fox which eventually resulted in Fox getting sole writing credit.
Myers also clashed with director, Thomas Schlamme. When Myers was unhappy, he locked himself in his trailer and refused to work. As a result, the film went over budget.
So I Married an Axe Murderer opened to mixed reviews and flopped at the box office. But it has accrued a cult following over the years.
Later that year, Myers and Carvey returned for a Waynes World sequel. But Waynes World 2 couldnt duplicate the success of the original. It got mixed reviews and disappointed at the box office.
The director of the original WW, Penelope Spheeris, has said she believes Myers prevented Paramount from hiring her for the sequel.
Myers reportedly retreated from Hollywood waiting for inspiration to hit. And eventually, it did.
In 1997, Myers returned with the James Bond spoof, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
When most people think of Austin Powers, they think of the catch phrases that dominated pop culture in the late 90′s. They assume that the first Austin Powers movie was a smash hit. But in reality, it opened at #2 at the box office and only grossed about 50 million dollars in the US.
That was enough to make International Man of Mystery a hit. But in spite of mostly positive reviews, it wasnt the box office smash most people remember. Audiences didnt really find the first Austin Powers until it was released on video.
I hated that bastard for years, said Penelope Spheeris. But when I saw Austin Powers, I went, I forgive you, Mike. You can be moody, you can be a jerk, you can be things that others of us cant be because you are profoundly talented. And I forgive you.
In 1998, Myers made a dramatic turn in the disco drama, 54, loosely based on the 70′s nighclub, Studio 54.
Myers played Steve Rubell, one of the two co-founders of Studio 54. How historically accurate was 54? The other partner was never mentioned.
54 ran into problems when test audiences found the characters unsympathetic. With only two months before its release, Miramax demanded reshoots. Entire sub-plots including a romantic triangle were scuttled.
The final version of the movie got poor reviews and bombed at the box office.
The next year, Myers returned to Austin Powers for the sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me. The sequel traded in co-star Elizabeth Hurley for 90′s it-girl, Heather Graham.
Whereas the first Austin Powers was a modest hit with a devoted cult following, the sequel was a box office smash. The reviews were still mo -
MovieAddict2016 — 13 years ago(November 18, 2012 03:01 AM)
Thanks for posting this. I had just been reading an article on Deadline about the drama behind Austin Powers 4, and how Myers/his reps were basically being divas, and after reading this, it makes more sense.
I recall hearing about a falling-out between he and Carvey (preventing a Wayne's World 3), hence my surprise at their MTV reunion a few years back; it was my understanding that Carvey felt Myers "stole" his impression of SNL creator Lorne Michaels and turned it into the Dr. Evil character in Austin Powers (this has been well-reported online). But after reading that he tried to exclude Carvey altogether from the movie?! Wow. Never knew that.
Dude definitely seems like a huge pain in the ass. I always thought his retreat from the public eye was somewhat purposeful, but now, it seems more like he just burnt a lot of bridges.
W.W.G.D.
What Would Gibson Do? -
razlakh — 13 years ago(November 20, 2012 01:34 PM)
What a garbage article. He doesn't retreat, he takes a 3 year break between movies. He supposedly 'retreats' after failures, but he takes his break even if the movie was a commercial success. He can't 'retreat' after failures and successes, otherwise he's not retreating.
And then we get to the end; 'Myers is a dick and nobody will work with him. Unless they do. But maybe they won't. So I'm not actually saying anything.' -
moviecuisine — 13 years ago(January 03, 2013 02:30 PM)
I agree that this article is a steaming pile of crap. So many people believe everything they read, all to the delight of the Hollywood PR machine. As far as Myers and Carvey go it's much better for fans and the public to believe the two hate each other than to imagine anything else.
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Gallowalker — 13 years ago(December 22, 2012 12:53 AM)
I got to speak with Verne Troyer once and he couldnt say enough good things about Mike said he was a real gentleman to everyone on set.
He did say a few bad things about Jim Carry though about the time he spent on the Grinch -
Minus_The_Beer — 13 years ago(January 20, 2013 04:34 PM)
Poorly written article overlooks the simple truth: Mike Myers made his money a long time ago, and as such, doesn't NEED to make a movie every year. Sure, he is known to be a pain in the ass, but when he's in the right frame of mind, comedy gold is produced. The world needs another Wayne's World or Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery more than they need more generic fodder from the likes of Adam Sandler or Rob Schneider.
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lunchboxattacks — 12 years ago(June 30, 2013 07:13 PM)
I don't know if Myers is the man to make another Wayne's World or Austin Powers in terms of a film of similar impact and influence or literal sequel. I don't know if he's in a place to come up with that kind of film and I don't know about sequels to either. I don't think he's got the youthful energy or hunger to make them shine and it's simply a different time. I'd like to see him make a comeback as I too believe he's got more good work in him but I'd like to see him transition to films and roles of a bit more substance, something a bit more character driven and something that reflects that he's on the wrong side of 50, while still being funny.
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MovieWatcher2009 — 12 years ago(October 17, 2013 09:43 AM)
I'm having a hard time believing Myers really wanted the Garth character written out of the movie; even if he originally wanted the skit to be just Wayne, by the time the movie came out the skit was one of SNL's most popular. So at that point making a Wayne's World movie without Garth would have been incredibly stupid on Myers' part.
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!!!deleted!!! (19664510) — 12 years ago(February 25, 2014 12:46 PM)
I worked on a set with Myers once. Never again. The guy's a raging egomaniac douche, and half the cast and crew were ready to walk off the set due to his histrionic cry-baby fits. Working with Myers is like working with a 10-year-old who has been told he can't have ice cream at a birthday party. As a result, he's basically persona non grata in this townno one wants to work with him anymore. That's why he's relegated to poor Shrek sequels.
Religion: Because even the stupid need hobbies.
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SpaceRain — 12 years ago(March 07, 2014 11:40 AM)
While I can believe what people are saying about him and what he's like to work with (my friend's uncle was a crew member for one of his movies and she said Myers fired him without giving him a reason).
But this article conveniently leaves out the part about Mike's dad, who had Alzheimer's in 1987 and died in 1991 right before Wayne's World received critical praise at its first screening. His father's condition is what caused him to be so uptight and demanding on set, since he was so determined to make Wayne's World a success and for his dad to be proud of him. It makes sense now. -
ck01036 — 11 years ago(April 12, 2014 05:09 AM)
I'm glad you mentioned the part about his fathers passing because I can almost promise that most of his "attitude" during Wayne's World was relatedb68 to his father. I've read many articles stating that he was taking his fathers condition/death very hard. He might have benefitted by taking time off, but then again that might have stunted his career too. Mike is a great comedian, but as a successful celebrity, you typically have to have an ego.
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reaseltbim — 11 years ago(June 15, 2014 11:35 PM)
I really don't understand how someone who is so nice and funny and charming on screen can be so completely the opposite in real life.
If what that article says is true, it is almost like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde situation, It is sad because he seems like such a charmer on his movies, someone with a really good sense of humor
right. -
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reaseltbim — 11 years ago(November 18, 2014 02:03 AM)
but it is much more than that. it goes beyond acting. He becomes those characters, he completely does.
Also in interviews and behind the scenes he always seems like a really nice and cool guy, So what? he is acting in the interviews as a decent person and not a crazy one as well?
is his whole life a lie? where any time he is in front of a camera he is putting a performance but behind the scenes he is really mean? -
BrokenBells — 10 years ago(June 11, 2015 05:45 PM)
I know what you mean, I just came on here because I read an old interview he did with Rachel Weisz where he came across really well, very nice and thoughtful and showing real interest in her, not the least bit self-involved. It gave me such a good impression that I wanted to see what he was up to, and was surprised to find that he seems to be the exact opposite in many work situations. So yeah, it does seem a bit Jekyll and Hyde..
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rams_lakers — 9 years ago(July 12, 2016 09:12 AM)
I really don't understand how someone who is so nice and funny and charming on screen can be so completely the opposite in real life.
If what that article says is true, it is almost like a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde situation, It is sad because he seems like such a charmer on his movies, someone with a really good sense of humor
From what I've heard often, a few perfect examples are Chevy Chase, Lucille Ball, and Lou Costello.
Reeboot and re-imagine are just silly euphemistic excuses for the dirty word remake.