The Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody opened Wednesday in the UK (it opens in Canada on Nov. 2) and movie-goers are divided about the inclusion of Canadian actor Mike Myers.
The Toronto-born comedian is barely recognizable as record label executive Ray Foster, who tells the aspiring rockers: “Mark these words: No one will play Queen.”
But it’s another line that has got people tweeting: Foster says teenagers are not going to be head-banging in the car to "Bohemian Rhapsody."
This, of course, is a cheeky reference to Wayne’s World, the 1992 movie starring Myers and Dana Carvey, in which the characters head-bang to “Bohemian Rhapsody” in their car.
Film critic Stephen Silver tweeted: “The part of BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY with Mike Myers is the worst scene in any movie this year. Like, Myers' beard is about the 10th-worst thing about it.”
Reviewer Peter Gray tweeted: “Mike Myers’ cameo is a little too on the nose.”
Fans aren’t so down on Myers. “The Wayne's World reference by Mike Myers was inspired and appreciated by myself,” tweeted Matthew Bonson.
Here a sample of the reactions:
It’s taken me two whole days to realise who Mike Myers was in #BohemianRhapsody and while I now get his vague Wayne’s World gag, it doesn’t get any less cringey
— Insert Montage (@InsertMontage) October 26, 2018
who would’ve thought that mike myers would’ve gone from singing bohemian rhapsody in wayne’s world to being IN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
— grace loves joe mazzello • 7 (@hardyrhapsody) October 23, 2018
2 1/4 hours! My god. However, I take my hat off to any film that casts Mike Myers and requires him to say the line: "what you need is a song that teenagers can get in their cars and bang their heads to, and that song is not Bohemian Rhapsody"
— lindsay_mc (@lindsay_mc) October 24, 2018
I can’t believe that
— (@MaybeRoo) October 25, 2018
1. Mike Myers was in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
2. Mike Myers referenced Wayne’s World in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
Appropriate that Mike Myers should have a role in Bohemian Rhapsody movie since he and Dana Carvey gave the song new life in Wayne's World.
— David Craig (@davidcraigstl) October 23, 2018
Fascinated to see what you all think of Mike Myers in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. I was halfway through his big scene before I realised that it was him, under layers of make-up for some reason, doing an accent that clocks up more miles than a National Express bus. I am perplexed by it.
— Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) October 26, 2018
If you don't understand why Mike Myers was chosen for a cameo where he bashes "Bohemian Rhapsody," perhaps you shouldn't be a film critic.
— Christopher Bates (@floyd_pink) October 24, 2018
Brilliant from start to finish. I thought Mike Myers as the manager who hated bohemian rhapsody was a little touch of genius for the Wayne's world generation!
— Mike seaton (@mikeseat) October 25, 2018
Bohemian Rhapsody. All of the problems I have with the film are overwritten by two things. Rami Malek is excellent and Mike Myers was cast purely to make a Wayne's World joke. #BohemianRhapsody #Queen #schwing #fullcommitment #RamiMalek
— Matt Amery ️ (@steptotheleft) October 24, 2018