Austin Powers
The Spy Who Shagged Me
The Cast:
•Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil/Fat Bas*ard
•Heather Graham as Felicity Shagwell
•Michael York as Basil Exposition
•Robert Wagner as Number Two
•Rob Lowe as Young Number Two
•Seth Green as Scott Evil
•Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina
•Verne Troyer as Mini-Me
•Elizabeth Hurley as Vanessa Kensington
•Kristen Johnston as Ivana Humpalot
•Gia Carides as Robin Swallows
and directed by Jay Roach
After seeing the very amusing Austin Powers international man of mystery (which I was first drawn to by funny trailers and the man himself sharing his nam with my brother (Austin) I had to watch this movie, but did it live up to my expectations?
In a word, yes. But first the plot.
Dr. Evil has come back to thwart Austin Powers again. This time he plans to steal Austin’s mojo (sexual power), while he is cryogenically frozen in 1969. A spy known as Fat Bas*ard, a very large scottish man, steals his mojo from Austin’s frozen body. This affects the time line and the present day Austin as we know him, looses his sexual ’’Grrr’’ with women.
With the help of the Ministry of Defence, Austin learns that Dr. Evil is up to his wicked ways. He must go back in time to the 60’s to get back his mojo. Not only this but Austin soon learns of Dr. Evil’s attempt to blow up the major cities of the Earth using a super ’’laser’’ on the moon, which has been dubbed the ’’Death Star’’ by the evil Doctor.
Thats enough of the plot, what about the film? I’ll say it now, this is really Dr. Evil’s film. Mike Myers has really improved on this character and he is now funnier than ever. I think he probably has more screen time that Austin. But why have one Dr. Evil when you can have two. The main source of comedy this time around comes from the 4ft clone of Dr. Evil known as the cute little Mini-Me. Mini-Me played brilliantly by Verne Troyer is a joy to watch. He spends the film as a mute but his performance with the Doctor means that there is never a dull moment.
Character performances:
Austin does have some good moments this time around but a lot of his jokes are re-used from the original but in different situations. And if that wasn’t enough then Myers plays a third character in the film. Fat Bas*ard is a huge, fat scottish man weighing in at one metric ton. Despite having a weird fetish for eating babies, this is another good comic creation. Dribbling when speaking and an oppertunity to see him naked means that this supplies you with the kind of comedy that will make you groan with disgust rather than laughter.
A lot of the original cast returned again to play their supporting roles. Back again is Frau Farbissina and Number Two for Dr Evil. Scott Evil also returns to try and work things out with his father but ends up just mocking him as usual. Scotts best scenes are definately in the Jerry Springer segments which bookend the movie. There is also the newcomers. The beautiful Heather Graham plays Felicity Shagwell, the american agent who is assigned to work with Powers. After having his part cut from the first film ( in the US version anyway, we brits got to see it ;-) ) , Rob Lowe returns to play a younger version of Robert Wagner’s Number Two character. Although its not a large part in the film, his impersonation of a younger Robert Wagner / Number Two is excellent.
Conclusion:
While this film is excellent and very entertaining (even on its fourth or fifth viewing!), it does ultimately suffer from borrowing heavily from the first movie, even with this still very very funny. While the new jokes are welcomed, it does show us that if Myers is to do a third film, it will have to be original and fresh, liked it that much after seeing it at the cinema, I went out and bought the video, very good film, a must see if you like comedies and the original Austin Powers.