Hindu and Buddhists concerned about Mike Myers’ film

AP- The 43-year-old actor, who lost his dad Eric to Alzheimer’s Disease in 1991, was inspired to make ‘The Love Guru’ – about a romantic spiritual adviser – after finally coming to terms with his dad’s death.

He said: “My father died in 1991 and I’ve been on an informal spiritual quest ever since. But I am just so happy now that I wanted to make a movie about my happiness.”

In “The Love Guru”, a film which Mike Myers helped to write, depicts the ‘Second Best Guru’ in all of India. Jessica Alba costars.

Members of Eastern spiritualities are starting to express concern that “The Love Guru” might do more harm than good. Having only seen the trailer, I’m concerned as well. I worry that Myers may have tried to capture the warmth and healing he learned on his ‘spiritual quest’, but ended up undermining the very thing he wished to present. It is a failed formula for an entire movie to mock a subject or people only to offer a redemptive moment in the form of a final lesson for the main characters. See Razzie Award nominee: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry. When a movie finds its success by taking part in the mockery of a subject, it undermines the base credibility of that subject.

It is my hope that Mike is doing more than that. True, many of the ‘funny’ moments don’t seem to be all that funny, and the catch phrases are tired already. And while the trailer certainly depicts an exaggeration of all things Eastern, it is my hope that somehow, Mike will not cross the line. If – amongst the poop and fart jokes- the spiritual basis behind his character is treated with dignity and respect, there may be some hope for the movie.

But let’s face it. This is Mike Myers.

Have a look for yourself.

Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/theloveguru