Mike Myers is funny. Whether he’s playing a part or doing an interview he manages to make people laugh. We all know the “Austin Powers” trilogy which was very successful and very funny. People always compare an actor’s movies, which is a good thing because they can see if a new movie is better than an old one and if the actor has progressed.

But things aren’t always as easy as that, because, sometimes, the viewers’ expectations are too high. That’s why everybody is so disappointed when a movie isn’t as great as the one before.

This seems to be the case with Myers’ new movie “The Love Guru.” Everybody expected it to be as good as or even better than “Austin Powers” and when it didn’t live up to their expectations, they quickly started to boo it. I think it is unfair.

The movie doesn’t suck at all and, most of the time, it is very funny. Mike Myers is still funny and if the jokes are a little too far-fetched, it’s because that’s the kind of humor people are looking for. There are two types of comedy: those with subtle humor, which put the brain at work, and those with a more obvious humor, which is something like what-you-see-is-what-you-get. “The Love Guru” falls in the second category.

To those who are not familiar with the story, here it goes: Myers plays the part of Guru Pitka who was born in America but raised in India. He grew up in an ashram (sort of a convent where sages live in peace, amidst nature) which was run by Guru Tugginmypudha, played by Ben Kingsley. It was very refreshing to see a funny Kingsley with a terrific accent. Because Pitka wants to become more famous than Chopra, the most popular guru in the world, he accepts the job given by Maple Leafs owner Jane Bullard, played by Jessica Alba. The Guru is supposed to bring back together Toronto Maple Leafs star Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) and his wife (Meagan Good), who became L.A. Kings Jacques "Le Coq" Grande’s (Justin Timberlake) girlfriend. Roanoke lost his magic since his wife left him and the Guru has to help him, in order for his team to win “Stanley's Cup.”

The cast is definitely going to attract many viewers, even if the humor is not that great. Justin Timberlake managed to pull it off and made a hilarious impersonation of “Le Coq.” Yes, there are many penis jokes involved and, yes, some of them are funny. Apparently they never grow old. In case you were wondering about Myers’s Verne Troyer, he also appears in the movie and gets laughed at. Although Pitka’s jokes towards Troyer’s character are a bit cruel, they remain funny.

All in all, I think Myers’ fans will enjoy the movie, even though it doesn’t top the “Austin Powers” trilogy. Myers still has what is takes to make people laugh.

Director: Marco Schnabel

Writers (WGA): Mike Myers, Graham Gordy

Release Date: 20 June 2008 (USA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language, some comic violence and drug references;

Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes;

Starring: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Ben Kingsley