MacGruber has plot, not a flop

A quick review of past films based on Saturday Night Live sketches turns up a lot of flops: "Ladies Man," "Superstar," "Stuart Saves His Family," "Night at the Roxbury." They usually tend to fall too far toward cheesy or gross, or without enough plot to fill an hour and a half - unsurprising, since they're based on sketches a few minutes long or less.

A quick review of past films based on Saturday Night Live sketches turns up a lot of flops: "Ladies Man," "Superstar," "Stuart Saves His Family," "Night at the Roxbury."

They usually tend to fall too far toward cheesy or gross, or without enough plot to fill an hour and a half - unsurprising, since they're based on sketches a few minutes long or less.

That's why these words seem so foreign: "MacGruber," the latest SNL movie, is totally worth $10 to see.

I'm sure many will argue with me, and point out the absurd sex scenes, the abrupt throat ripping and instances where celery is forced into unsanitary places.

But trust my word as a dumb-comedy skeptic that every joke, whether cheap slapstick or a shocking one-liner, is well timed and genuinely laugh worthy.

There's little in the SNL sketches that would suggest this would be a good movie. The skits are 30 seconds long or less about MacGruber, a MacGyver-wanna-be, trying to get out of hairy scenarios with random materials that always end in explosive failure.

And yet, the film version has a consistent plot with a steady supply of jokes.

Basically, uber villain Dieter Von Cunth - I think you can guess the jokes stemming from that - has acquired a nuclear weapon that he plans to use on the White House.

The U.S. government turns to MacGruber, a military hero with a daunting list of medals and a beautiful natural perm, to create an unstoppable team and find Cunth. We soon discover that MacGruber and Cunth are long-time adversaries, which underscores MacGruber's need to track the bad guy down.

Needless to say, a whole lot of silliness ensues. Yet miraculously the movie never seems to drag.

As antithetical as this sounds, MacGruber proves to be a dumb comedy that's smart in many ways. Smart in timing, thanks to some smart comedians who add nuance and something a little bit lovable to their absurd characters.

Will Forte, an SNL cast member who has also recently made appearances on 30 Rock, not only stars in the film but also co-wrote it with John Solomon and Jorma Taccone. On screen, Forte doesn't compromise on embracing the antics of the plaid-sporting goof-up MacGruber, whose earnest endeavors are usually based more on thoughtless whim than any sensible plan.

MacGruber's love interest and fellow crime stopper Vicki St. Elmo is played by Kristen Wiig, one of the newer and stronger SNL cast members. Her quivering speech and penchant for breaking into soft rock songs make the simplest lines, including "I peed my jeans. I peed 'em." inexplicably hilarious. I'm serious.

Cunth is played by Val Kilmer, which is really only funny because it's Val Kilmer sinking to a level where we haven't seen him before.

Even Ryan Phillippe's presence as young Lt. Dixon Piper, a member of MacGruber's team, adds some laughs, as Dixon's cool and steady spy instincts play as a foil to MacGruber's bungling.

All in all, the movie is just ridiculous, but in a way that will leave you smiling and not sickened or regretful of the ticket price. So suppress those instincts that would lead you away from this flick, and let yourself enjoy something deliciously amusing.

Alecia Warren is a staff writer for The Press. She can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2011, or via e-mail at awarren@cdapress.com.