SNL + Lonely Island = One Demented 'MacGruber'

'MacGruber'

Review: 3.5/5

Who knew MacGruber was so wildly unpredictable? His idealistically humane methods during combat, while conceptually praiseworthy, never seem to manifest in a diplomatic manner. Instead, enemy-goons are shot, run-over, and de-throated. In the meantime, Grubes expresses his passion for male genitalia, has nauseating interactions with make-believe ghosts, and displays a disturbingly odd obsession with road rage. Each of these traits subvert his supposed humanity, most times in amusingly bizarre and off-putting ways (you'll never look at a celery stick the same way again).

Recognizing wholeheartedly that the 'SNL' branded film could be doomed to scathing reviews and poor box-office numbers, director Jorma Taccone wisely chooses to abandon all logic in favor of letting the seemingly manic 'MacGruber' sprint madly from scene-to-scene, spouting off absurd platitudes doused in misplaced adrenaline. Interestingly enough, (and not timely whatsoever) Taccone makes the decision to satirize 80s B-Movie action flicks, utilizing Grubes as the air-headed captain of all things nonsensical.

As an homage to the 'Dumb Bad Guy with a Silly Accent' cliche', Val Kilmer delivers, ponytail and ominous one-liners intact. SNL teammate Kristen Wiig wears a placid look of worry and confusion throughout the 90-minute running time, occasionally pausing to sing (!?), and Ryan Phillipe plays the straight man believably enough, but the stage belongs to Will Forte's 'MacGruber' and his demented machismo.