VA - The Love Guru - Music From The Motion Picture (2008)

Comic actor Mike Myers tends to exert authority over various aspects of the films in which he appears, from writing the screenplays to providing parts of the soundtracks, in addition to playing several parts. For The Love Guru, he is the dominant force in this "Music from the Motion Picture" various-artists soundtrack, which gives the impression that the movie retains the comedian's eclectic, anything-goes approach. The title makes it unsurprising that Myers pops up here and there speaking goofy dialogue in an Indian accent; he also sings such golden oldies as Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" and Steve Miller's "The Joker" in the same dialect. The selections are a miscellaneous group of pop songs from the '70s, '80s, and '90s in a variety of styles, and their inclusion no doubt makes more sense onscreen than it does on a CD. Or maybe not. As long as some laughs are elicited, the music and the movie will have done their job.~ Review by William Ruhlmann