Mike Myers
Beyonce Knowles
Michael Caine
Michael York
Seth Green
Verne Troyer
Robert Wagner
directed by
Jay Roach
Austin Powers In Goldmember is the funniest third instalment of afilm series since Godfather Part III. Sorry, just kidding. Still, thenewest chapter of the comedic spy series may not be the most accomplishedmotion picture around town but it certainly does deliver where it counts themost: in the laughter department. It is a major improvement over itspredecessor, 1999’s The Spy Who Shagged Me.
It’s been three years since Austin Powers (Mike Myers in one of his fourstarring roles in the film) captured his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil (Myers) andput him behind bars. But it doesn’t take long for Dr. E and his accomplice,Mini Me (Verne Troyer), to escape. He teams up with Goldmember (Myers), acreepy Dutch man with a gold fetish, and hatches a time-traveling scheme totake over the world, one that involves the kidnapping of Nigel Powers(Michael Caine), Austin’s father and England’s most renowned spy. Austinheads back to 1975 and joins forces with his old flame, Foxxy Cleopatra(Beyonce Knowles), a streetwise detective, to stop Evil and company whilesaving dear ol’ dad and the world.
The film is a collection of skits, cross-cultural and in-jokes, moviespoofs and silly musical numbers connected by the thin plot and under-developed characters (namely Foxxy Cleopatra and Goldmember). But we’re nothere for depth. We’re here to laugh. And although the jokes are just asgross, juvenile and predictable as they were in the last film,Goldmember succeeds in keeping its audiences constantly cracking upfor its brief running 94-minute running time. For every joke that misses,there are two behind it that don’t. Even if the film is structurally a mess,Myers and director Jay Roach still know how to deliver the goods.
Myers’ multiple performances once again display his wonderful comedictalents, while other returning cast members Michael York (Basil Exposition),Robert Wagner (Number Two), Troyer and Seth Green (Scott Evil) all fit backinto their roles quite nicely, playing straight man to Myers’ antics.Michael Caine is fine as Austin’s dad, while Knowles in her film debut doesan adequate job with what is basically a non-existent role as Foxxy.
There are also a few cameos that pop up in Goldmember, the majorityof which arrive in the film’s hysterical opening. Make sure you don’t arrivelate to the theater or you’ll miss the funniest scenes of the series sofar.
Is Austin Powers In Goldmember better than its predecessor? Is itworth fighting the massive opening weekend crowds to see it? Will you laughyour butt off for an hour and a half?
To quote the man, “Yeah Baby, yeah!”
