NHL Helpful In Filming Process Of "The Love Guru," Opening Friday
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NHL Allows "Love Guru" To Use
Official Marks, Stanley Cup In Film |
Paramount Pictures' "The Love Guru," starring and written by Mike Myers, opens nationwide in the U.S. Friday, and for the film, Paramount and NHL execs and the movie's producers and crew spent "many hours together working on everything from movie promos produced by NHL Productions to allowing Myers to use the actual Stanley Cup in the film," according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. For previous movies, sports leagues have "demanded script approval," but that "wasn't an issue" with this film. The NHL and Paramount reached a deal allowing Myers the "use of league and league and club marks, access to arenas, and a marketing agreement in which Paramount ran commercials for 'The Love Guru'" during the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC and Versus in the U.S., and on TSN and the CBC in Canada. The NHL played the films' trailer in the 16 arenas of its playoff teams, and "shot Love Guru T-shirts into the stands at games." In addition, the Maple Leafs let Myers film scenes in the Air Canada Centre, including during two preseason games. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said of Myers, "We're thrilled that he wanted to do this movie, at least in part, because he thought it would be a positive thing for the [NHL].” Paramount Senior VP/Worldwide Marketing Partnerships LeeAnne Stables said that having the hockey scenes in the movie "look authentic 'was really important to Mike,'" and Mullen writes the NHL "obliged in every way, including making the new NHL Reebok uniforms available" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/16 issue).
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Maple Leafs Let Myers (r) Shoot Film Scenes
At Air Canada Centre During Preseason Games |
NICE ASSIST: In Toronto, Lance Hornby notes the Maple Leafs' and Raptors' locker rooms at Air Canada Centre were used in the filming, and the movie also has "some clever spoofs" of the CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada." The Maple Leafs were "good sports about the [Stanley] Cup curse becoming fodder for more jokes and will likely do some cross promotions next autumn." MLSE Exec VP & COO Tom Anselmi said of aiding in the movie's production, "Obviously something disparaging in the script about our team or about our fans would be a concern. But a bunch of our guys went to the Love Guru screening and came back killing themselves laughing at how funny Mike is." NHL Kings D Rob Blake and former NHLer Bob Probert both make appearances in the movie. The Maple Leafs last year also "became the first major-league sports franchise ever to lend their logo to a gay-themed movie," titled "Breakfast With Scot" (TORONTO SUN, 6/20). "The Love Guru" features the "HNIC" theme song (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/20). On Long Island, Neil Best wrote the movie also makes "sly references" such as calling the father of Jessica Alba's character "Hank Bullard," referring to former Maple Leafs Owner Harold Ballard (NEWSDAY, 6/15).
REVIEWS: In N.Y., A.O. Scott writes, "To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious. ... No, 'The Love Guru' is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20). USA TODAY's Claudia Puig gives the film two stars and writes it is "enraptured by bathroom humor that doesn't even reach sophomoric standards. It's more on the level of preschool" (USA TODAY, 6/20). In Boston, Wesley Morris: "It's a pitiful assortment of bad ideas and gags that never work" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/20). In Toronto, Peter Howell awards the movie 2 1/2 out of four stars, and writes it will "either appal you or tickle your funny bone until you yelp for divine mercy" (TORONTO STAR, 6/20). In L.A., Jan Stuart: "For those unimpressed with cameo turns or impatient with libidinous wordplay, there is a barroom brawl and a joust with urine-drenched mops, high-testosterone special ops who liberate the hero from his zen-like facade and allow him to show us what he's made of" (L.A. TIMES, 6/20). In Toronto, Jim Slotek writes, "What can you say about a comedy that literally climaxes with two elephants humping on the Air Canada Centre ice at a crucial moment during a [Maple Leafs'] Stanley Cup game?" (TORONTO SUN, 6/20).
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