subject: Snl Sketch "macgruber" To Debut On Silver Screen In May 2010 [print this page] Saturday Night Live has had a long history of producing movies based on some of their most popular sketches. The most popular film based on an SNL sketch has been Wayne's World, which was done almost twenty years ago. However, in the past five years there has not been a film made based on a Saturday Night Live sketch. However, that is about to change. The SNL sketch series MacGruber (a parody of the 1980s show MacGuyver) is currently being finished, with a May, 2010 release date.
The MacGruber series is essentially a spoof of MacGuyver, where MacGruber is usually trying to disarm a bomb, only to become distracted and having the bomb explode. MacGruber usually tries to diffuse the bomb using mundane items, such as paper clips, chewing gum, and other things like that (which is perhaps the most obvious aspect of MacGuyver that is displayed).
Despite the fact that the sketch is really a one trick pony, the sketch became very popular among SNL fans and there is now rarely an episode that does not feature a MacGruber sketch. MacGruber is portrayed by Will Forte, who has a very impressive track record on the series due to the fact that he has never cracked (which means messing up lines, or visibly holding back laughter during filming) during his entire run on the show.
The film is directed by SNL writer and Lonely Island member Jorma Taccone, in his big screen directional debut. Taccone had directed several skits done by the Lonely Island (which consists of himself, SNL writer Akiva Schaffer, and SNL writer and actor Andy Samberg), and has acted in several films and music videos, but has never been behind the camera on such a big project.
The plot of the film concerns MacGruber, who has just come out of retirement after the death of his fiancee. MacGruber has sworn to a life of crime fighting using only his bare hands, and never a gun (a play on the most common plot device of MacGuyver). MacGruber is on a search for a nuclear warhead that has been stolen by his arch nemesis, Dieter von Cunth (played by Val Kilmer).
The film also features actors Ryan Phillipe, Maya Rudolph, and Kristen Wiig. While the marketing on the film has not been hyped very heavily, fans of the sketch are still anticipating the film. Perhaps SNL's return to the big screen will bring about new cinematic ventures.
