“MacGruber” plays up to expectations

If you’re looking for a sophisticated comedy, look elsewhere. As promised by the trailers filled with cheesy sexual jokes, “MacGruber” delivers 90 minutes of fart jokes, 80s puns and glaring nudity. (But honestly, what did you expect?) And while the laughs my not last once you get out of the theater, SNL fans will find themselves chuckling in embarrassment and amazement throughout the film.

SNL’s Will Forte is a stupidly charming lead character. The film plays constantly off of the 80s series McGyver. Forte sports a mega-mullet and constantly carries around a Blaupunkt cassette deck. Wiig is introduced as a Farrah Fawcett-haired blast from the past as MacGruber walks in on her playing her Casio, writing original songs. (“Four is a perfect number for sure, if it’s two kids and me and you.”)

Lieutenant Dixon Piper (Ryan Phillippe) plays the straight man well and has his moments, especially during the ongoing gag between him and “MacGruber” where they play rivals. Phillippe doesn’t stand out however, and it’s not because there’s just so much talent shining around him. His presence makes painfully obvious the lack of hilarious SNL cameos in this film that are often present in other SNL spinoffs. Don’t expect Molly Shannon or Chris Kattan to hop into a scene and raise the stock of the movie. Do expect to find yourself wishing Piper hadn’t been wearing a bullet-proof vest when MacGruber used him as a human shield.

“MacGruber” may not be the next “Wayne’s World” and Will Forte may not be the next Will Ferrell, but it’s a fun way to start off the summer.