Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
'The Love Guru'
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language, some comic violence and drug references
(out of four)
Garrett Conti can be reached via e-mail or at 412-380-5685.
Thanks to the hiatus, though, folks might be willing to forgive, forget and shovel out any number of dollars to check out Myers' latest, "The Love Guru." That wouldn't be wise.
The newest addition to Myers' resume -- a film in which he took acting, writing and producing credits -- is simply one of the worst comedies of the year. A combination of genitalia jokes, disjointed direction, a lack of originality and shallow humor guarantee "The Love Guru" a spot in the bowels of the comedy genre in this new century.
Myers assumes the role of Guru Pitka, a self-help specialist in the mold of Deepak Chopra. Don't tell the Guru that, though. He considers Chopra, who does make a cameo, his main competition. When Jane Bullard (Jessica Alba), the desperate owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, reaches out to Pitka to help her get her star player back on track, the Guru obliges. Motivated by a possible appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and a shot with the beautiful Bullard, the Guru goes to work.
His focus turns to Darren Roanoke (Romany Malc), a struggling hockey star whose separated wife is dating Jacques Grande (Justin Timberlake), the legendary goaltender for the L.A. Kings.
It'll be up to Pitka to get Roanoke his confidence back and set the Leafs on the road to winning the Stanley Cup.
Besides Chopra, Jessica Simpson, Val Kilmer and Kanye West make cameos. Verne Troyer, Stephen Colbert and Manu Narayan -- a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Franklin Regional High School and Carnegie Mellon University -- are in supporting roles.
It seems as though Myers tried to capture the same comedy magic he found with Austin Powers in "The Love Guru." His latest creation is a far, far cry from the successful spy spoof, though.
• In wide release
