Actually, looking at the title of the piece, I’m having second thoughts. “The Life and Work of David Wain” insinuates that Mr. Wain has died. He has not died. I was merely trying to imply that this piece covers aspects of his life as well as his career. But I actually have no real insight into David Wain’s personal life so I could have easily called it “David Wain: A Retrospect” or “Spotlight: David Wain”. Let’s go with “David Wain: Purveyor of Comedy Gold Nuggets” and move on.
David Wain was one of the many talented folks to come from MTV’s sketch comedy show, “The State” which ran on the cable channel from 1993 to 1995. Other cast members include Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney among others who shall go unnamed for now. The group has had the distinction of continuing to work together on various projects over the years, the latest example being Wain’s upcoming film “Wanderlust” which was co-written by Wain and former “State-mate” Ken Marino and features performances by Marino, Kenney and Joe Lo Truglio. I don’t know if they actually call each other “State-mates”. In fact, I doubt it. But I like the phrase, mainly because it rhymes while fusing the words “State” and “cast mate”. Maybe it will stick…
Many years after the devastating cancellation of “The State” Wain went on to co-write (this time he collaborated with another “mate from the State” Michael Showalter) and direct “Wet Hot American Summer” which is a sort of comedy’s answer to “Meatballs”. Not that “Meatballs” wasn’t a comedy; it’s just that “Wet Hot” was a funnier, spoofier “Meatballs” that took the “Teen/Summer Camp/Camp Counselor Sex Comedy/Dance/Romance” micro genre and turned it on its balls.
“Wet Hot” is also comedy’s answer to “American Graffiti” as it features an amazing cast of unknowns that went on to superstardom. Look for early work from Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, Christopher Meloni, Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. Actually the established actors, namely Janeane Garofalo and David Hyde Pierce, did not fare so well AFTER “Wet Hot” and went on to relative obscurity. Weird.
In 2005 came the short lived but highly hilarious free form comedy, “Stella” which featured Wain alongside fellow “Cast buddy who was also in The State” Michael Ian Black and Showalter. To describe the show as bizarre and offbeat does no justice. “Stella” was one of the most original and strange shows ever put on American Television and never found an audience. It was cancelled after ten episodes proving, yet again, that everybody sucks.
The last few years Wain has been focusing on feature films and has established himself as a “Feature Film Director”. Maybe that’s a better title: “David Wain: Feature Film Director”. In 2007 he gave us “The Ten” which was a little episodic comedy about the ten commandments. Again, great cast (Jessica Alba, Winona Ryder, Jon Hamm) and many high points. Good stuff.
Then came “Role Models” which made nearly $100 Million dollars worldwide!!! Actually it made $92,380,927 worldwide which is closer to $90 million dollars but, regardless, it’s a lot of money and gave Mr. Wain some Hollywood Juice. Hollywood Juice is very important in Hollywood and shall allow Mr. Wain to make quirky and original films for years to come.
Case in point: “Wanderlust” which opens this Friday. It will be reviewed here in the virtual pages of CinemaStance.com. The film stars megastars Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston and is poised to give Mr. Wain even more Juice. And, as everyone knows, you cannot have enough juice. Not in juice crazed Hollywood. Thanks.
