The Love Guru (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Naughty Mike Myers comedy has little to love.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the many kids who like Austin Powers are going to be eager to see Mike Myers' latest ribald comedy about a wacky, catchphrase-spouting character in goofy makeup who enjoys vulgar misadventures before finally managing to triumph (especially since it costars Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake). But this movie has a coarser feel than the Powers trio. The language and sexual innuendoes are constant, unsubtle, and over the top (expect everything from an elephant pooping on screen to references to masturbation and oral sex); there are drinking and drug references; and products and brand names are almost as prevalent as Myers' cheeky grin. That's a whole lot of iffy content to sit through for only a few laughs.

Positive messages: Guru Pitka is an American-born, India-trained "guru" with a broad accent and wacky facial hair -- many have questioned whether he's an intrinsically racist character. Although Pitka's message to the world is one of love, he pushes that message as a way to gain influence and prestige. Any other messages are overshadowed by the incessant bathroom humor, from elephants defecating on screen to students "training" by striking one another with urine-soaked mops. Pitka is seen pulling various objects from his anus and, in a yoga-mocking sight gag, with his own head up his anus. Other jokes rely on food and diagrams that look like male genitalia. Women are often portrayed as attractive background decor, although many female characters are also strong, assertive, and loving. Jokes play on the stereotype that Indian people work in customer support, and a diminutive character is constantly referred to as "Frodo," "elf," "hobbit," and so on.

Violence: Extensive violence throughout (generally played for comedy), including everything from on-ice hockey fight action (a blood-streaked tooth is spat onto the ice) to scuffles. The lead character suffers a bloody attack by a "guard rooster" and is later seen with the rooster's severed head in his teeth; characters punch each other; a mock-comedy bar fight breaks out; a supporting character pulls a bloody piece of glass from a gash in his forehead on-camera.

Sex: Constant crude sexual language and references, including (but most definitely not limited to) a character renowned for his endowment and references to erections, masturbation, and oral sex. The title character wears a chastity belt, which is often seen; he also has scantily clad minions. References to pet stylists who became charity workers "going from doggie style to the missionary position." References to syphilis and crude catchphrases like "eatin' ain't cheatin" and the double-entendre "Liquor up front, poker in the rear." References to youthful lesbian experimentation for comedic effect. Oral sex is mimed using a corn dog. A character is praised for her "great rack" and "bell-shaped ass." Multiple genital and erection jokes involving sound effects, whether from striking a chastity belt or the organ in question striking the floor (both mercifully unseen).

Language: Frequent strong language, including "ass," "penis," "dinkbag," "bitch," "prison bitch," "doggy style," "s--t," "crap," "prick," "hos," "dump," "whizz," "nutsack," jackoff," "pubes," "balls," and "a--hole." Thanks to Pitka's accent, the phrase "can't face" is confused for a crude phrase comparing someone's face to female genitalia.

Consumerism: Lots of real-world brands, including professional sports teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the L.A. Kings; TV shows like The Electric Company, Oprah, and Law and Order: SVU;products like Altoids; Dell Computers; Cinnabon; Pop-Tarts; Frangelico; Depends Undergarments; and magazines like Marie Claire, Newsweek, and Men's Health.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A sportscaster makes extensive references to his stint in rehab for the abuse of "peyote buttons and Frangelico." At one point, he relapses on-air. Alcohol is mentioned as a way of enhancing connection and communication. The sing-along finale includes a lyric with the phrase "midnight toker," which another character later repeats while exhaling the smoke of an unknown substance from a hookah.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the appeal of Mike Myers' over-the-top characters and broad comedic style. What makes characters like Austin Powers and Guru Pitka funny? Are they affectionate caricatures or stereotyped cartoons? Are we expected to laugh at Pitka because he says funny things or because his dress and accent are "funny" to Western eyes and ears? Do you think Myers' portrayal of Pitka is racist? And do you think Pitka's positive messages come through amid all of the fistfights, urine jokes, and sex comedy? Is the message more important than the medium, or is the movie's feel-good philosophy a way to try to dignify lowbrow comedy?

What's the story?

In THE LOVE GURU, Mike Myers plays Guru Pitka, a self-help expert whose mystical and mischievous teachings on love and sex have made him second only to Deepak Chopra in the self-help world. Looking for the big gig that will push him to number one, Pitka takes on the job of repairing the damaged relationship between star hockey player Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) and his ex-girlfriend -- she left him for a rival goalie, which has thrown off Darren's game and is endangering the team's chances in the playoffs. As a potential romance blooms between Pitka and the team's owner, Jane (Jessica Alba), Pitka takes shortcuts to helping Darren. Will he do the right thing and sacrifice the trappings of success to truly succeed?

Is it any good?

For all of The Love Guru's attempts at positive messages, there's a lot of crude comedy to sit through, and while it's hard to say quantitatively whether the film is more or less crude than the Austin Powers films, The Love Guru is certainly less funny. Making fun of self-help is one thing, but Myers wants to pass on wisdom as well as make jokes about passing gas; the movie somehow feels childishly rude and curiously smug at the same time. The problem isn't that Pitka is too much of a departure from Austin Powers -- the problem, in many ways, is that Pitka isn't, from his sex-obsessed ways to his catchphrases to his silly self-confidence.

The Love Guru has a few bright spots -- there are some fun, silly musical numbers, and Stephen Colbert's woozy, boozy sports announcer is always good for a laugh. But those moments are few and far between, and anytime the movie builds up any amount of goodwill on viewers' part, it squanders it with an unfunny excrement or urine joke. Myers has entered the same realm of success as Adam Sandler -- the comedy-killing career "high" where you've made so much money that no one will dare tell you how you might make a better movie -- and the self-satisfied air of The Love Guru is an inevitable byproduct. The Love Guru wants to be smutty and funny, naughty and virtuous; it's a balancing act that Myers simply can't pull off.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Marco Schnabel
Cast: Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Mike Myers
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: June 20, 2008
DVD release: September 15, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content throughout, language, some comic violence and drug references.

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This review was written by James Rocchi

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

flyingcupcakes
teen, 16 years old

not that good

i walked in the theater thinking it would be horrible like the worst mike myres movie ever but it was a little bit better than i expected because there was some funny parts so i give this movie 2/5 stars

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The Love Guru (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on The Love Guru

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Watch our review

Review It

Review The Love Guru

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

not that good

No, no, just no

Get over yourself! Love Guru is FINE!

Very Funny!

Eh..

Hahahaha

No One under 17 premitted!!!!

HILARIOUS ... but only for the right people. (NO ADULTS!)

Why, Mike Meyers?

mike meyers-groin hit king

Very Movie!

marushgahargtata! it is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laughs

I left before I lost my mind

gay

another cool mike myers movie

:p

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