Another Take: Not Much to Love in The Love Guru

Mike Myers' latest film, The Love Guru, is the story of the Guru Pitka -- the second greatest guru in the world, after Deepak Chopra -- and his quest to land a spot on Oprah. In order to swing this, he first needs to mend the mind of a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player who has both mother and marital issues. It's a movie jam-packed with jokes, and it had me laughing throughout. The problem is that most of the jokes aren't funny and I was laughing at thirty minute intervals. Yes, I too can play Myer's game of gotcha!.

This is all a shame because I like Myers, I kind of like the Guru Pitka character (in spots), and I get what he's going after here. Yes, many of the jokes are lame on purpose. I know. He's trying to pull an act of regression on the audience. The movie is supposed to be silly and infectious. You're supposed to feel like a kid again and laugh at the Guru Pitka's bad jokes.

Bakvaas! I know our good friend Cole Haddon gave it a pass -- perhaps the birds were singing in his ears that morning. The sweet smell of a summer's day invigorated his soul and all was well in the universe. Maybe he is just more at peace with his inner self than I am. I'll grant you all of those things. But in the opinion of my own screwed-up head, it just doesn't work. The problem isn't simply that the jokes are lame. It's that it's the same joke over and over and over again. Look! Verne Troyer falling down! He's so tiny! Look! A penis joke! Look! Verne Troyer falling down! Look! A penis joke! I like little people falling funny and penis jokes just as much as the next guy, but come on. It's sad to see a comic talent as gifted as Myers reduced to such base, uninspired humor. It is reminiscent of the comedic work (I shudder to say it) that Robin Williams has done in comedies the last ten years.

Some of these jokes worked for me in the trailer, but I was amazed how bad much of the timing was in the movie. I even thought Justin Timberlake had a shot to kill in the role of "Le Coq," but man, it's just embarrassing. It's not easy to feel bad for a millionaire who can get any woman he wants, but because of his performance here, I sure as hell came close.

I haven't written Mike Myers off as so many critics have foolishly done. He's just too talented for that nonsense. But I do hope his return to funny is soon, because it's been a long time coming.

Grade: D

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