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Los Angeles, CA – A retrospective on the career of comedian Dana Carvey highlights a stark contrast between his celebrated work on Saturday Night Live and the critical failure of his 2002 film, The Master of Disguise.
Carvey rose to prominence as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1993, creating iconic characters like Garth Algar (half of the Wayne’s World duo) and the Church Lady.His impressions of figures like George H.W. Bush and Johnny Carson were also widely acclaimed. Wayne’s World, originating as an SNL sketch, spawned two blockbuster films – Wayne’s World (1992), grossing $183.04 million domestically, and Wayne’s World 2 (1993), earning $106.6 million domestically – cementing Carvey’s status as a comedic star.
Though, The Master of Disguise, released on August 9, 2002, proved to be a significant setback. Directed by Perry Blake, the film featured Carvey as Pistachio Disguisey, a secret agent who uses elaborate disguises to thwart a villain played by Brent Spiner. Despite a reported production budget of $19 million, the film was almost universally panned by critics.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 1% approval rating based on 104 reviews. Metacritic assigned it a score of 12 out of 100, signifying “overwhelming dislike.” Audience reception mirrored the critical response, with the film receiving a 3.3/10 rating on IMDb. The film earned just $5.2 million domestically during it’s theatrical run.
The film’s failure is often cited as a turning point in Carvey’s career. He largely stepped away from acting following the release, focusing instead on stand-up comedy and occasional television appearances. In 2017, Carvey revealed he underwent a double bypass surgery and was diagnosed with carcinoma in situ of the prostate, which he attributed in part to the stress of the film’s reception and subsequent career difficulties.
While The Master of Disguise remains a notorious example of a comedic misfire, Carvey’s earlier work continues to resonate with audiences. his contributions to Saturday Night Live and the Wayne’s World franchise have secured his place in comedy history. Many consider his portrayal of Garth Algar and the Church Lady to be his defining roles, a legacy he appears content to retire on.
