Review of So I Married An Axe Murderer

Introduction

After writing and starring in the highly profitable "Wayne`s World" and "Wayne`s World 2", and before starring in and writing the popular (although not with this reviewer) Austin Powers and Austin Powers 2, Mike Myers took a break from writing duties and appeared as Charlie Mackenzie and Stuart Mackenzie (Charlie`s father) in "So I Married An Axe Murderer".

The film did not do very big business at the box office, which is probably why so few of you reading this have heard of it. But making less than 10 million at the box office doesn`t always mean a bad film.

Video

Despite not being a big blockbuster, we are treated to two transfers - a full-frame transfer on one side of the disc or a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer on the other.

The video quality is very good, colours are reproduced well and there`s hardly any dirt on the print and no nasty artefacts hanging around. A very good effort for a lesser known film. Look out for some very good shots of San Francisco.

Audio

Only a DD2.0 stereo track here, but it does sound very good in ProLogic mode. It`s a shame that we didn`t get a full 5.1 remix as there are a lot of great music tracks here that might have benefitted from it. As it stands though the soundtrack is very good, with dialogue that`s clear and music that comes across very well.

As for some of those soundtrack songs, you get two versions of "There She Goes", the early 1990s indie hit for The Las, also performed here by The Boo Radleys. Younger viewers may remember a more recent cover by Sixpence None The Richer. There`s also "Two Princes" by The Spin Doctors, and two versions of "Saturday Night", not by the awful Wigfield or whatever she was called, but by The Bay City Rollers and Ned`s Atomic Dustbin.

There are also Spanish and Portugese soundtracks on the disc if that`s your thing. Some of the jokes probably don`t translate too well though.

Features

Just a trailer I`m afraid, but given the low profile of the title it`s not too surprising to find extras lacking.

Conclusion

This is a cracking little film. It`s no Oscar winning masterpiece, but then it never pretends to be. Mike Myers is excellent as Charlie and Charlie`s father Stuart, who is obsessed by the size of his son`s "heed", and has a hatred for a certain poultry related military figure synonymous with a high street fast food chain.

Nancy Travis is good as Harriet too, but has hardly been seen on the big screen since. Amanda Plummer gets another "quirky" role as Rose, Harriet`s slightly bizarre sister.

You should also watch out for a rare big screen appearance from the late but wonderful Phil Hartman as John "Vicky" Johnson. You might remember him from such Simpsons characters as Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. Another comic cameo is the deadpan Stephen Wright as the pilot with engaging conversation like "That`s the artificial horizon, which is better than the actual horizon".

If you like Myers you`ll love this film, and if you don`t like Myers you`ll probably like it too, since its sufficiently different from the other films that he`s appeared in. And if you like quotable films, you`ll pick up a few quotes here! And you might even learn a few new poems.

It`s knocking around at a reduced price nowadays too so you can probably pick it up for around $15. Recommended for comedy fans.