The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

What happened to Mike Myers? He was one of the biggest comedic performers on the planet for a long time. Myers made it big on Saturday Night Live where he created some fun and memorable characters who would live on in our memories. One such character helped blow up his career on the silver screen with Wayne’s World. But then it felt like his fortunes leapt ahead into the late 90s with the launch of Austin Powers which made Myers a megastar and opened the door for him to become Shrek. But there was a little comedy that came out sandwiched in between the Wayne’s World and Austin Powers eras of Myers career. That comedy just so happened to be So I Married an Axe Murderer.

The most important thing for a comedy is if it is funny or not, right? Myers’ stamp of vibe and personality can be felt all over this film. Robbie Fox was responsible for the screenplay, but you can feel that Myers has influence in his own character work in the film. There are plenty of laughs throughout the film and many of them stem from Myers’ work. His slam poetry is something different and interesting. I think it might also be the comedy that is going to be the hardest sell. The humor really works because of Myers personality and delivery. There are plenty more laughs coming from the strange and big personality Scottish parents of Myers’ character Charlie. Myers also stars as his own father, and he delivers some of the wildest one liner in a thick accent that certainly feels like a precursor for Shrek. The film leans on random comedic sequences that feel narratively unnecessary but comedically satisfying. Alan Arkin has a fun running gag trying to be a tough captain to Charlie’s best friend (Anthony LaPaglia) who is a cop on the hunt for the titular axe murderer. Throw in some wild cameos from Phil Hartman, Michael Richards, Charles Grodin, and Steven Wright and you get plenty of laughs along the way. Not all the humor hits as some of it is just too offbeat and feels too idiosyncratic. 

Does the film deliver on the story aspects? The core of the film is a romantic comedy which leans heavily into the expected tropes and beats from most films like it. Myers and Nancy Travis (the straight one to all the crazy comedy) have strong chemistry together which certainly pays dividends. There are some solid subversions as well with Charlie finding all types of reasons to be suspicious of his Harriet (Travis). There are some solid moments of tension that director Thomas Schlamme can muster and a dangerous and fun climax that pays off the mystery of who has been axe murdering Harriet’s exes. The script is full of filler scenes to make sure this film reaches feature length. But what is quite apparent is that there is not enough meat on the bones for this film. The ride is quite fun and hard to deny. 

Do the performers make enough of an impact as well? Myers is certainly the standout of this ensemble as not only the charming lead but one of the funniest supporting characters in the whole film. That Scottish accent and line deliveries are something to behold. Travis has the tough job of anchoring this film with her seriousness and she succeeds with even a few quirky fun moments for herself. LaPaglia is a fun and charming addition who makes for a good wingman for Charlie. Brenda Fricker delivers some of the important weight of the film as Charlie’s mother. Fricker always has a wonderful vibe and presence in her performance and that soul is felt here in some of her interactions with Myers. All the fun supporting cameos mentioned above certainly lean on the “shticks” of the performers and they wear them well. 

Is So I Married an Axe Murderer the type of hidden comedic gem worth seeking out? First and foremost, the humor lands and this is a fun and silly romp of a film. There are some elements that are a bit shaky with the tone as it bounces from silly rom com to murder mystery. The music helps capture the 90s feel and helps create such a specific and discernible atmosphere that is so fitting. The film that Schlamme creates might never be serious enough to work on all levels, but it still is a fun and engaging time that shows off impressive comedic talents.