'MacGruber' Creator Jorma Taccone And Star Will Forte 'Set Out To Make A Late-'80s/Early-'90s Action Movie'

It's been a decade since the last "Saturday Night Live" spin-off movie, the Tim Meadows-starring "The Ladies Man" (which is actually a lot better than people give it credit for). It's a shorter gap than there was between "The Blues Brothers" and "Wayne's World" -- 12 years there -- but still a significant amount of time. The break worked out way back when, and if early reports from South By Southwest are accurate, it will be equally beneficial for "MacGruber," the latest "SNL" spin-off.

"MacGruber" is a spoof of classic TV action hero "MacGyver," a man who could get out of any jam given enough common household items to work with. MTV's Josh Horowitz spoke with the comedy sketch's creator (and the spin-off's director) Jorma Taccone as well as MacGruber himself, Will Forte, at SXSW about the difficulties of translating a series of brief parody sketches for the big screen and the differences between the two.

"It's much, much longer," Taccone said. "That's the biggest difference-- it's much, much longer."

"I think it's much different than people will expect," Forte added. "I think people are expecting just a 90-minute version of the sketch. It's way different than that, in what we think is a very positive way."

Taccone elaborated. "Well we set out to make a late-'80s/early-'90s action movie basically, starring MacGruber." A pause. "Possibly ill-cast."

Forte takes the criticism in stride, playing off of the title character's creator with his typically great sense of comedic timing. "I don't understand that. He was well-cast. The casting was pretty solid from the get-go," he argued.

"Well-cast," Taccone conceded. "Parts of it." And Forte's face falls. Poor guy.

Josh, ever the savvy interview, moves things along. He asks Forte if he feels dumber whenever he steps into the MacGruber role. ...maybe not the best choice?

"I don't understand the question," Forte replied after a pause. "Okay, ask me the question again." Josh complies. "I do what's written. Yeah, I guess so. Yes. We write a lot of situations where MacGruber is pretty unaware socially and unaware just in every possible way," Forte explained.

Taccone further clarified, this time seriously. "Well we would do certain takes where we would find there was a little bit too much Forte in there, meaning a very smart man, and then we would do one that was a dumbed-down version. Full-on MacGruber. Let's put a little MacGruber on that. We would do certain takes like that."

Most importantly, what does it take for Forte to transform for the role. How does he get into character? "It really is just putting on the clothes and the wig," he said, adding, "Growing out the scruff a teeny bit more."

Have you been following SXSW reports on "MacGruber"? Do you like the original sketch? Are you excited for the movie?

Tags jorma taccone, MacGruber, Video, Will Forte