Mike Myers’ one and only favourite movie of all time: “Hands down of anything”
Just because an actor has spent the bulk of their career dabbling in one genre above all others, it doesn’t have to be responsible for their favourite movie of all time, with Mike Myers just one of many stars who’ve looked outside of their wheelhouses to find their idea of cinematic perfection.
After all, Titanic is at the top of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s list, and nobody would pay to see the ‘Austrian Oak’ headlining a three-hour historical romance. Just to reinforce the point, he also loves The Sound of Music, and there’s no way anyone in their right mind wants to see him anywhere near a musical.
In a similar vein, John Carpenter defined an entire era of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, but he’s always had a soft spot for the western, a genre he never made a movie in, with Howard Hawks, and Rio Bravo in particular, casting a shadow over his filmography that he never ran toward, as much as he wanted.
While it’s true that one of the films closest to Myers’ heart is a comedy, as you’d expect from the creator of Wayne’s World and Austin Powers, it doesn’t take the number one spot. Since he’s so adamant that Stanley Kubrick is the medium’s resident “mack daddy” and “a god that walks as man,” it was only natural that he’d use a similarly spiritual way to describe the iconic auteur’s Dr Strangelove.
Describing it as “comedically, the altar to which we make our offerings,” he clearly holds it in high regard. However, it’s not his one and only favourite flick, an honour that belongs to a first-time filmmaker. Not just any first-time filmmaker, though, but one of the most influential ever, who helped pioneer a movement.
“The 400 Blows is by far my favourite film,” Myers informed GQ. “Hands down, of anything, you know.” François Truffaut’s staggering first feature doesn’t jump out as one that would remain seared into the memory of a schlubby Canadian comic as the greatest thing he’s ever seen, but the Saturday Night Live veteran’s personal tastes often belie the kind of movies that made him a household name.
He cemented his fame by asking a female acquaintance if they should shag now or shag later, but Myers grew up with grand dreams of emulating John Cassavetes, channelling the spirit of the ‘French New Wave’ with a Canuck twist, and ushering in a groundbreaking cinematic movement of his own.
Obviously, none of that happened, but since he’s been out of the spotlight for the better part of two decades and soundbites like, “Schwing!” “Yeah, baby,” and “Get in mah belly” are still part of the cultural lexicon, he found the most unusual middle ground between his personal preference and his passion projects.
Truffaut’s coming-of-age drama was a landmark moment for world cinema, and it’s still spoken of in hushed tones as one of the best films that have ever been made, but you may not have readily associated it with the guy who considers a character called Lord Lordington to be the high watermark of his performative career.
