View source for The Love Guru

{{Short description|2008 film by Marco Schnabel}}
{{About||the Indian film|Love Guru (2009 film){{!}}''Love Guru'' (2009 film)|the Pakistani film|Love Guru (2025 film){{!}}''Love Guru'' (2025 film)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = The Love Guru
| image          = Love guru.jpg
| caption        = American theatrical release poster
| director       = Marco Schnabel
| writer         = [[Mike Myers]]<br />Graham Gordy
| producer       = [[Michael De Luca]]<br />Mike Myers
| starring       = Mike Myers<br />[[Jessica Alba]]<br />[[Justin Timberlake]]<br />[[Romany Malco]]<br />[[Meagan Good]]<br /> [[Verne Troyer]]<br /> [[Omid Djalili]]<br />[[Ben Kingsley]]
| cinematography = [[Peter Deming]]
| editing        = [[Billy Weber]]<br />[[Lee Haxall]]
| music          = [[George S. Clinton]]
| studio         = [[Spyglass Entertainment]]
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paramount Pictures]] (select territories)
* Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2008|06|20|United States|2008|08|01|United Kingdom|2008|10|02|Germany}}
| runtime        = 87 minutes
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United States<ref name=”afi”>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/64687-THE-LOVEGURU|title=The Love Guru|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref>
* United Kingdom<ref name=”afi”/>
* Germany<ref name=”afi”/>
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $62 million<ref name="mojo"/>
| gross          = $40.9 million<ref name="mojo"/>
}}
'''''The Love Guru''''' is a 2008 [[romantic comedy]] film directed by Marco Schnabel in his directorial debut. It was written and produced by [[Mike Myers]] who was the leading cast-member along with [[Jessica Alba]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Romany Malco]], [[Meagan Good]], [[Verne Troyer]], [[John Oliver]], [[Omid Djalili]], and [[Ben Kingsley]]. The film follows Pitka (Myers), a [[guru]] who is tasked with revitalizing the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] hockey team. 

Myers came up with the concept of a Guru character in the late 1990s. The aforementioned character was initially planned to appear in the [[Austin Powers]] franchise, but was left unimplemented. The film came from Myers' desire to make a hockey movie, expressing wish fulfillment in the film's plot. Filming commenced in [[Toronto|Toronto, Canada]] in August 2007. Before release, the film's portrayal of [[Hinduism]] received divided responses from [[Hindus|Hindu]] audiences, who remained cautious at the film's handling of cultural themes. [[Paramount Pictures]], the film's main distributor, eventually enabled pre-screenings for select representatives of the [[Hindu American Foundation|Hindu American Foundation (HAF)]], who concluded that the film was not problematic. 

''The Love Guru'' was released in the [[United States]] on June 20, 2008 by Paramount, with the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Germany]] getting releases later that year in August and October respectively, albeit with a different [[Film distribution|distribution]] partner for the latter. It was panned by critics and audiences who criticized its humor, [[screenplay]], and Schnabel's direction, often being considered a low-point in Myers' career and [[List of films considered the worst|one of the worst films ever made]]. It was a [[Box-office bomb|box-office failure]], grossing $40 million on a budget of $62 million. At the [[29th Golden Raspberry Awards]], the film won three of its seven nominations, including [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]].

==Plot==
Guru Pitka is the self proclaimed "number-two [[guru]] in the world", after [[Deepak Chopra]]. A flashback shows Pitka was an orphan, taught by Guru Tugginmypudha. When the twelve-year-old Pitka announces he wants to become a guru so that girls will love him, Tugginmypudha puts a chastity belt on him until he can learn that loving himself is more important than being loved by others.

Pitka's dream is to become the number-one guru and appear on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]''. He lives a charmed life with thousands of followers, including celebrities [[Jessica Simpson]], [[Val Kilmer]] and [[Mariska Hargitay]] (whose name is used as a faux-[[Hindi language|Hindi]] greeting). Pitka's teachings, which involve simplistic acronyms and plays on words, are displayed in [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]] [[slide show]]s.

In Canada, Jane Bullard inherits the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] hockey team, who are on a losing streak. Their star player, Darren Roanoke, has been playing badly ever since his wife Prudence left him for [[Los Angeles Kings]] goaltender Jacques "Lè Coq" Grandé. Jane is a big fan of Pitka's and offers him $2 million dollars to fix Darren's marriage so the team can win the [[Stanley Cup]]. Pitka's agent tells him if he succeeds, [[Oprah Winfrey|Oprah]] will have him on her show. Pitka also meets team coach Cherkov, and mocks his [[dwarfism]].

Pitka and Jane bond on the plane ride. Jane became a fan of Pitka's work due to the death of her father and admits she has a crush on Pitka. When Jane says she had a gay experience in college, Pitka to gets an erection causing his chastity belt to clank.

During a game, Pitka encourages the rival team to beat up Darren to distract him. Darren begins to play well, but then gets suspended for the next two games after beating up Lè Coq and hitting Coach Cherkov with a hockey puck.

Pitka has dinner with Jane and almost kisses her but his chastity belt clanks again. She leaves feeling rejected. In revenge for Pitka’s antics, Coach Cherkov punches Pitka in the [[testicles]]. Pitka throws a tantrum over the pain to his testicles as they are overly sensitive due to 33 years of [[blue balls]].

Dick Pants warns Pitka to hurry up the process or he will lose his spot on ''Oprah'' to Deepak Chopra again. Pitka is adamant that Darren is not ready, but puts Darren and his wife together regardless. This reconciliation fails. Pitka then drives himself and Darren to Niagara Falls and helps Darren realize that since his mother only showed him love when he succeeded he had grown to believe Prudence would only love him if he won.
 
With time running out, Pitka distracts Lè Coq with his idol, [[Celine Dion]], and lies to Prudence that Darren stood up to his mom, encouraging her to return to her husband. During the final game, Lè Coq, having heard that Darren cannot play with his mother watching, gets her to sing the national anthem, causing Darren to flee. At the airport on his way to guest on [[The Oprah Winfrey Show|''Oprah'']], Pitka sees the news on television and goes back to help Darren. Pitka reveals his chastity belt to Jane, explaining why he pulled away from her. Jane says she understands.

After standing up to his mother, Darren recovers until Lè Coq brags that Prudence prefers him in bed. Darren freezes, and Pitka realizes he needs another distraction, which he provides by getting two elephants to have sex in the middle of the rink. Darren wakes from his stupor and scores the winning goal. After the game, Coach Cherkov apologizes for the [[groin attack]], Pitka offers a hug but as Cherkov obliges he punches him in the face and threatens to beat him up if he ever attacks him again. They then make up and become friends. He then meets Deepak Chopra and decides that he is fine with being the first Guru Pitka instead of the next Deepak Chopra.

Back in India, Tugginmypudha tells Pitka that he has finally learned to love himself and removes Pitka's chastity belt, revealing there was just a hook in the back. The film ends with Jane and Pitka dancing together in a [[Bollywood]]-style number to a rendition of "[[The Joker (Steve Miller Band song)|The Joker]]".

==Cast==
* [[Mike Myers]] as Guru Maurice Pitka / Himself – Pitka is the 2nd top guru behind [[Deepak Chopra]]. After his parents, two dog groomers turned missionaries, died at 12, he was sent to live in a small village in India. He initially aspired to be a guru to be a [[lothario]]. His guru has him forced into a vow of celibacy until he learns self-love and many other humiliating tasks. Thirty-three years later, in the present, with a chance to finally be on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', he is hired to travel to America to fix the relationship between Darren and Prudence.
* [[Jessica Alba]] as Jane Bullard, the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, an heir to her father who died. She is disliked by fans of the team, but she is a big fan of Pitka's work helping her through her grief with her father. She is also attracted to him. He falls in love with her at first sight.
* [[Justin Timberlake]] as Jacques "Le Coq" Grandé, the rival goalie. He is dating Darren's wife. He is famous for being well endowed.
* [[Romany Malco]] as Darren Roanoke. With his love life in shambles, Pitka aids him in fixing his relationship.
* [[Meagan Good]] as Prudence Roanoke, Darren's wife and Jacques's lover.
* [[Verne Troyer]] as Coach Punch Cherkov, the coach of the Maple Leafs. He is irritable and dislikes Pitka due to his cruel jokes about his dwarfism.
* [[Ben Kingsley]] as Guru Tugginmypudha, the quirky guru of Pitka. He is severely cross eyed due to excessive masturbation. 
* [[Omid Djalili]] as Guru Satchabigknoba / Gagandeep Singh, a rival guru to Pitka. His scenes were cut from the film.
* [[Telma Hopkins]] as Lillian Roanoke, Darren's overbearing mother.
* [[John Oliver]] as Richard "Dick" Pants, Pitka's greedy agent.
* [[Manu Narayan]] as Rajneesh, Pitka's assistant and closest friend.
* [[Stephen Colbert]] as Jay Kell, an NHL hockey announcer and drug addict.
* [[Jim Gaffigan]] as Trent Lueders, an NHL hockey announcer.
* [[Rob Huebel]] as Bar Patron
* [[Daniel Tosh]] as Cowboy Hat
* [[Samantha Bee]] as [[Cinnabon]] Cashier

As Themselves
* [[Jessica Simpson]]
* [[Kanye West]]
* [[Deepak Chopra]]
* [[Rob Blake]]
* [[Mariska Hargitay]] (''uncredited'')
* [[Val Kilmer]] (''uncredited'')
* [[Oprah Winfrey]] (voice)

==Music==
The original score for the film was composed by [[George S. Clinton]], who also composed the score for the ''[[Austin Powers]]'' films, also starring, written and produced by Mike Myers. Clinton recorded it with an eighty-piece ensemble of the [[Hollywood Studio Symphony]] at [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name=scoring>{{cite news | first=Dan| last=Goldwasser | url=http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/137 | title=George S. Clinton scores Mike Myers' ''The Love Guru'' | publisher=ScoringSessions.com | date=2008-05-24 | access-date=2008-05-24 }}</ref>

The song "Dhadak Dhadak" from the Bollywood film of 2005, ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]'', was used in the trailer.

The songs "[[9 to 5 (Dolly Parton song)|9 to 5]]", "[[More Than Words]]", and "[[The Joker (Steve Miller Band song)|The Joker]]" are all in the film (performed by Myers and with [[sitar]] accompaniment) and on the soundtrack. "[[Brimful of Asha]]" was also used in the film.

==Production==
Mike Myers first came up with the idea for Guru Pitka in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-06-16 |title=Mike Myers Interview – THE LOVE GURU |url=https://collider.com/mike-myers-interview-the-love-guru/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Celizic |first=Mike |date=2008-06-16 |title='Love Guru' Mike Myers' mantra: 'Lighten up' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/love-guru-mike-myers-mantra-lighten-wbna25189776 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=www.today.com |language=en}}</ref> The character was originally planned for the ''Austin Powers'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Beck |first1=Marilyn |last2=Smith |first2=Stacy Jenel |date=July 17, 1998 |title=PRODUCERS HOP FORWARD WITH PREQUEL TO 'ROGER RABBIT' |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |quote=A Nov. 2 start date has been set for "Austin Powers 2: The Wrath of Khan." Mike Myers will, of course, be back as that swingin' '60s spy guy, Austin Powers - as well as several other characters including Dr. Evil and someone called Guru Pitka. He'll have a new sidekick, Felicity Shagwell.}}</ref> Myers began workshopping the character in New York comedy clubs in 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2006-12-31 |title=Mike Myers: Intentional Man of Mystery (Published 2006) |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/movies/31leib.html?_r=1 |access-date=2023-08-19}}</ref> He billed these live shows as "An Evening With His Holiness the Guru Pitka".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Rob |date=May 12, 2007 |title=Mike Myers' next project sees his Cup runneth over |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref> Myers said, "about a third of the audience were friends of mine who would come. A third of the audience would be people that had heard that I was doing it. And a third would be people thinking they were coming to see an actual guru. I did that for a year and I videotaped them and it informed me."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berlin |first=Joey |date=June 2, 2007 |title=Meyers working behind scenes |work=[[North Bay Nugget]]}}</ref> Myers wore a prosthetic nose for the character both in the live performances and in the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryzik |first=Melena |date=June 20, 2005 |title=Test Flight for Myers's Guru Pitka |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Knight Jr |first=Richard |date=May 2, 2008 |title=Sampler of cinema snacks: Richard Knight Jr. rates the trailers for the big releases of the spring, summer. |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Jay |date=June 20, 2008 |title=Guru's teachings hard to stomach; Myers film sloppy crass and stupid satirical affair |work=[[Calgary Herald]]}}</ref>

''The Love Guru'' was in part inspired by Myers' career-long desire to make a hockey movie.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hiscock |first=John |date=May 18, 2007 |title='I was born to play this part'; Mike Myers finally gets to make his longed-for hockey movie in Toronto |work=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Masterson |first=Lawrie |date=May 27, 2007 |title=Ogre all, life's fun for Myers |work=[[Sunday Telegraph]]}}</ref> A fan of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], Myers described the film's plot as wish fulfillment, saying, "I figure the only way that my team will win a Cup is if I write it."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hornby |first=Lance |date=May 18, 2007 |title=Leafs win in Myers' new flick |work=The Toronto Sun}}</ref>

First time director Marco Schnabel had previously worked with Myers as a [[Second unit|second unit director]] on the ''[[Austin Powers]]'' series, most notably ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Tatiana |last2=Press |first2=The Associated |date=2007-03-28 |title=Schnabel helping Par with 'Guru' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/schnabel-helping-par-guru-132939/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> ''The Love Guru'' filmed in Toronto in August 2007.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Williamson |first=Kevin |date=May 7, 2007 |title=Mike Myers brings his Love Guru to Toronto |work=[[The Ottawa Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Portman |first=Jamie |date=May 14, 2007 |title=Shrek brings out the Brit in Myers; Comic's wit shaped by Toronto childhood |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]}}</ref> It was intended to start a franchise.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-04 |title=My Year Of Flops, Kicking A Man While He's Down Case File #132: The Love Guru |url=https://www.avclub.com/my-year-of-flops-kicking-a-man-while-he-s-down-case-fi-1798215990 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref>

[[John Oliver]] made his feature film debut in ''The Love Guru'' and was cast due to Myers enjoying ''[[The Daily Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Bill |date=July 4, 2008 |title=Getting his kicks as actor, too |work=[[The Edmonton Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Usborne |first=David |date=April 7, 2010 |title=Our man in New York |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-21 |title=TV's John Oliver on satire, stand-up and Smurfs |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/tvs-john-oliver-on-satire-stand-up-and-smurfs/article573365/ |access-date=2023-08-19}}</ref> [[Samantha Bee]] filmed a cameo but only makes a silent appearance in the final cut of the film. Dialogue for her character is included in a bonus feature of deleted scenes contained on the film's home media release.<ref>{{Cite video|title=The Love Guru - Deleted Scenes|date=September 16, 2008|publisher=Paramount Studios|type=DVD}}</ref>

==Promotion==
Myers appeared in the seventh season finale of ''[[American Idol (season 7)|American Idol]]'' as Pitka, the "spiritual director" of that show. The finalists [[David Cook (singer)|David Cook]] and [[David Archuleta]] got to visit the [[Paramount Pictures]] studio theatre to see ''The Love Guru'' a month prior to its release and then got to meet Myers dressed like Pitka and playing "[[Guitar Hero|Sitar Hero]]".

A "Fan Resource Page" at [[Fox Entertainment Group|Fox Entertainment]]'s beliefnet.com website<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/loveguru/index.html The Love Guru] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514031123/http://www.beliefnet.com/loveguru/index.html |date=2008-05-14 }} on [[Beliefnet]]</ref> was "created as part of a collaboration between [[Beliefnet]] and Paramount Pictures."<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com//loveguru/disclaimer.html Disclaimer about contents of ''The Love Guru'' Fan Resource Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611085021/http://www.beliefnet.com/loveguru/disclaimer.html |date=2008-06-11 }} from [[Beliefnet]]</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film did poorly at the box office. In its opening weekend, ''The Love Guru'' grossed $13.9 million in 3,012 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #4 at the box office behind ''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'', ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', and ''[[Kung Fu Panda (film)|Kung Fu Panda]]'',<ref name="mojo">{{mojo title|id=loveguru|title=The Love Guru}}</ref> falling short of the $20 million range forecast by Hollywood pundits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.aol.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news-story/ar/_a/smart-moviegoers-give-guru-no-love/20080622125209990001?icid=100214839x1204643267x1200196505 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626095842/http://news.aol.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news-story/ar/_a/smart-moviegoers-give-guru-no-love/20080622125209990001?icid=100214839x1204643267x1200196505 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 26, 2008 |title='Smart' Moviegoers Give 'Guru' No Love |access-date=2008-06-23 |publisher=[[America Online]] }}</ref> The film grossed $32.2 million in the United States and Canada and an additional $8.7 million overseas, for a total of $40.8 million worldwide, against its $62 million budget.<ref name="mojo"/> When the film was released in the [[United Kingdom]], it ranked only #8 on the opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=20080801|title=Weekend box office 1st August 2008 – 3rd August 2008 |publisher=www.25thframe.co.uk|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|13|3.5|177|The Love Guru features far too many gross-out gags, and too few earned laughs, ranking as one of Mike Myers' poorest outings.|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/love_guru/|title=The Love Guru (2008)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|24|33|access-date=9 May 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-love-guru/ |title=The Love Guru Reviews |access-date=September 16, 2024 |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |work=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade "B -" on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite magazine |author1=Joshua Rich |title='Get Smart' gets a box office win |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/06/26/get-smart-gets-box-office-win/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=December 19, 2008 |quote=And with a B- CinemaScore grade from an audience that skewed slightly younger and male}}</ref>

Jay Stone of the ''[[National Post]]'' gave the film one star and said the film "is shockingly crass, sloppy, repetitive and thin." Stone said "[[Deepak Chopra|Chopra]] is used almost as a [[product placement]], taking a proud spot alongside a circus, a brand of cinnamon buns, the [[Toronto Maple Leafs|Leafs]] and, of course, Mike Myers." Stone also wrote, "the [[sitar]] based versions of pop songs like '[[9 to 5 (Dolly Parton song)|9 to 5]]' are oddly watchable – but mostly the film is 88 minutes of ridiculous sight gags and obscene puns."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=599641 |title=Love Guru is inoffensive to all except fans of comedy |access-date=2008-06-20 |first=Jay |last=Stone |date=2008-06-19 |work=[[National Post]] }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>

[[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote "The word 'unfunny' surely applies to Mr. Myers's obnoxious attempts to find mirth in physical and cultural differences but does not quite capture the strenuous unpleasantness of his performance. No, ''The Love Guru'' is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again."<ref name=Scott>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/movies/20guru.html?8dpc |title=Just Say 'Mariska Hargitay' and Snicker |access-date=2012-01-06 |author=A. O. Scott |date=2008-06-20 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Scott also commented that the appearance of actress [[Mariska Hargitay]] was anticlimactic. An ongoing gag in the film is the use of "Mariska Hargitay" as a phony [[Hindi]] greeting.<ref name=Scott/>

[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 1 out of 4 stars, writing, "Myers has made some funny movies, but this film could have been written on toilet walls by callow adolescents. Every reference to a human sex organ or process of defecation is not automatically funny simply because it is naughty, but Myers seems to labor under that delusion."<ref>Ebert, Roger (2008). [http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-love-guru-2008 The Love Guru], retrieved 30 June 2014</ref>

[[Harry Knowles]] of [[Ain't It Cool News]] wrote a highly negative review, saying ''The Love Guru'' "isn't merely a bad film, but a painful experience." He considered it one of the worst films of at least the past several years and also declared it might ruin Myers's career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37138 |title=Harry says, 'If Shit Got THE LOVE GURU On It, Shit Would Wipe It Off!' |access-date=2008-07-13 |author=[[Harry Knowles]]|date=2008-06-19 |publisher=Aintitcoolnews.com}}</ref>

[[Mick LaSalle]] of ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' was one of the few major critics who did not write the film off completely, stating "Mike Myers' new comedy, "The Love Guru," is a disappointment, but it's not a disaster, and that's at least something."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Movie-review-Mike-Myers-as-The-Love-Guru-3280049.php |title=Mike Myers as 'The Love Guru' |access-date=2017-11-04 |author=Mick LaSalle |date=2008-06-20 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Myers later poked fun at the film's failure in an appearance on the December 20, 2014 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', where he appeared as [[Dr. Evil]] (a character from his far more successful ''[[Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers]]'' series), giving advice to [[Sony Pictures Entertainment|Sony Pictures]] on its [[Sony Pictures hack#Threats surrounding The Interview|cancellation]] of the release of ''[[The Interview]]'': "if you really want to put a bomb in a theater, do what I did: put in ''The Love Guru''."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/nBoPm_ZJPDc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20141221201508/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBoPm_ZJPDc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBoPm_ZJPDc| title = Sam Smith/Dr. Evil Cold Open - Saturday Night Live | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Award
! Ceremony date
! Category
! Subject
! Result
|-
| rowspan="8"| [[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
| rowspan="7"| [[29th Golden Raspberry Awards|February 21, 2009]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]
| [[Gary Barber]], [[Michael De Luca]] and [[Mike Myers]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
| Marco Schnabel
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]]
| Mike Myers
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]]
| [[Jessica Alba]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor|Worst Supporting Actor]]
| [[Ben Kingsley]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Verne Troyer]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]]
| Mike Myers and Graham Gordy
| {{won}}
|-
| [[30th Golden Raspberry Awards|March 6, 2010]]
| Worst Actor of the Decade
| Mike Myers {{small|(also for ''[[The Cat in the Hat (film)|The Cat in the Hat]]'')}}
| {{nom}}
|}

==Portrayal of Hinduism==
Before the film's release, ''The Love Guru'' provoked mixed responses among [[Hindu]]s. Some expressed unhappiness about how Hindus are portrayed in the film, believing ''The Love Guru'' was disrespectful and risked giving [[Hinduism]] a bad reputation among viewers not familiar with the faith. Other Hindus, such as an official statement from the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]], gave the film a cautious welcome, saying the film "does not intend to hurt religious sentiments" and asking critics to see the film as satire and not a literal representation of Hinduism.<ref name =Anuttama>{{cite web|url=http://www.dandavats.com/?p=5981|title=ISKCON North America's Official Statement on The Love Guru|publisher=www.dandavats.com|access-date=2008-06-21|last=Anuttama Dasa|first=[[ISKCON]] Minister of Communications}}</ref>

Rajan Zed, a Hindu cleric from Nevada, asked that [[Paramount Pictures]] screen the film for members of the Hindu community before its release. Based on Zed's interpretation of the movie's trailer and [[MySpace]] page, he said ''The Love Guru'' "appears to be lampooning Hinduism and Hindus" and risked reinforcing harmful stereotypes.<ref name="Cohen_2008">Sandy Cohen, [[Associated Press]], [https://www.fosters.com/story/entertainment/2008/03/27/mike-myers-latest-spoof-love/52468982007/ Mike Myers' latest spoof, "The Love Guru," hitting 'ohm']. ''Foster's Daily Democrat'', March 28, 2008, accessed Aug 31, 2024.</ref> Professor [[Diane Winston]], an expert on media and religion, said the film was seemingly more a critique of American attitudes towards "quick spiritual fixes" rather than a sustained satire of Hinduism.<ref name="Cohen_2008"/>

Paramount Pictures agreed to provide the [[Hindu American Foundation]] (HAF) an opportunity to pre-screen the film as soon as it had a complete work print of the film, but ultimately did not follow through with this plan.<ref>[http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/20080613_the_love_guru "HAF Critical of Paramount Picture Refusal for Pre-Screening of 'The Love Guru'"], Hindu American Foundation, accessed May 8, 2011.</ref> Instead, Paramount requested representatives of the Foundation attend a [[Minneapolis]] pre-screening the night before the film's release. HAF agreed to view the film after many requests from [[Hinduism in the United States|American Hindus]] who were concerned about the film. HAF reviewers concluded ''The Love Guru'' was vulgar and crude but not "mean-spirited" or necessarily [[anti-Hinduism|anti-Hindu]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110807220734/http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/20080620_the_love_guru_preview "'The Love Guru' is Vulgar but not Hinduphobic, Say Hindus Attending Special Preview"], Hindu American Foundation, June 20, 2008, accessed May 8, 2011.</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of films about ice hockey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0811138}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''The Love Guru''
|list =
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Worst Film}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}}
}}
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