Austin Powers in Goldmember
4 out of 5 stars
R E V I E W   B Y   R I C H   C L I N E
he's back, baby Austin is back, baby. And after the spoof-of-the-spoof second film, he's back on track here. The opening scene is a hilarious pastiche of M:I-2 complete with John Woo action and more cameos than you can keep track of. Then we're down to business as Austin (Myers) must face off once again with his arch nemesis Dr Evil (Myers again), who has now teamed up with the Dutch metallurgist Goldmember (an unrecognisable Myers) on a fiendish plot. Dr Evil is again surrounded by his cronies; sulky son Scott (Green) is trying to be more sinister so he can regain his place in Daddy's affections after the arrival of favored "son" Mini-Me (Troyer). Meanwhile, Austin must travel back in time to the disco '70s to rescue his estranged, kidnapped father (Caine) and collect leggy babe Foxxy Cleopatra (Knowles) before returning to the present to save the planet.

Yeah, whatever! The story makes little sense, but it's such an ingenious play on James Bond plots that every twist makes us laugh out loud. Combine this with a constant stream of outrageous humour--subtle gags, broad slapstick, goofy dialog, wacky characters, intelligent wit--that, admittedly, is of the smut variety. Yes, the film strains at the seams with hilariously vulgar innuendo. But there's a huge leap in production values after the cheap and cheerful Part 2. This one has great effects, lushly detailed production design, elaborate musical numbers and massive stunts galore.

Not to mention all those A-list cameos. Myers is terrific, as usual. Austin seems a bit restrained this time, probably because he has to share screen time with so many other people now! But Myers' side characters are emerging with lives of their own (Fat Bastard even makes an appearance). And the other actors shine around him, each of them gleefully seizing the opportunity to steal scenes and make the most of their characters. All of whom are, of course, set up for Part 4. Green and Troyer are the standouts as bickering "siblings", and Savage has a very silly turn as Dr Evil's Number Three, who's actually a mole for the good guys. If you've seen the film you're giggling now. Just admit it!

cert 12 themes, language, innuendo, vulgarity 18.Jul.02

dir Jay Roach
scr Mike Myers, Michael McCullers
with Mike Myers, Beyonce Knowles, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Robert Wagner, Mindy Serling, Verne Troyer, Michael York, Fred Savage, Clint Howard, Kevin Cooney, Nobu Matsuhisa
release UK/US 26.Jul.02
NewLine
02/US 1h35

Mini-me. Nigel, Foxxy and Austin (Caine, Knowles, Myers) race to save the world from the fiendish plot of Dr Evil...

myers knowles caine green

CAMEOS:
Burt Bacharach, Tom Cruise, Danny DeVito, Quincy Jones, Nathan Lane, Rob Lowe, the Osbournes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, Britney Spears, Steven Spielberg, John Travolta.

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
he's back, baby send your review to Shadows... "Austin Powers 3 - who would've thought! Such a silly premise keeps on going and going, and getting better and sillier! The main attraction to this edition is all the cameo shots - I like the first two films, and have to say I liked this one at least as much. Even my husband Bob, who REALLY did not want to go, laughed at the silly jokes, obvious ripoffs from other movies and the just plain silliness. It is silly, but does not pretend otherwise. Go see it for a few laughs ... and, yeah baby, maybe another silly sequel?" --Laurie T, Minneapolis 31.Jul.02

"Quite dissapointing really. Not as good as the last two films; really the only thing I liked about it was Michael Caine." --Leanne, England 4.Apr.03

© 2002 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

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