 |
|
- If you see only one movie this summer, see Star Wars. But if you see two movies this summer, see Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Summary Capsule
- Superspy Austin Powers is back to battle Dr. Evil and his sidekicks with the help of American spy Felicity Shagwell.
Mutant Meter
     |
Movie Store [proceeds go toward monthly MRFH upkeep]
Justin's Rating: Double-entendre city
Justin's Review: Austin is back, and he's looking a little worse for wear. After a "just for giggles" opening nude dance sequence, we return to the world of Austin (whose wife was just a fembot, after all, and that merits a big "Huh?") and Dr. Evil (on the Jerry Springer show). Dr. Evil devises a time machine, travels back to the 60's, and comes up with a "moon laser" plot that Austin, of course, must defeat. The time travel element is briefly confusing, but soon you forget about it and just let the film do whatever it's doing.
I will be the first to agree that current "hottie" Heather Graham is "yummy" and "phat" (notice Justin trying to connect with the younger generation). But her presence is quite bewildering... she's basically a female version of Austin, with the same lines and less body hair. Not that funny, tho. It's a shame that her outfits are more fascinating than her presence in the movie, but that's Hollywood for ya.
Although I'd say this film is only about half original material and half stuff from the first movie, it's still funnier than most of the stuff you'll see this year. Sight gags are great when done right, and Austin 2 has a few up its sleeve (particularly dealing with Dr. Evil's new spaceship). Dr. Evil tries a little too much to be hip in an unhip way (such as saying "girlfriend", at which I winced), but he's still a cult hero for the nineties. His single-mindedness to take over the world — even though he owns billions and billions — is refreshing in our current PC-terrorist movie trend. Austin has certainly entered the mainstream of pop culture (count the cameos by famous stars, if you don't believe me), yet the franchise might be at the end of its freshness.
On the other hand, I really wouldn't mind seeing an entire feature film about Mr. Bigglesworth.
PoolMan's Rating: 6 out of 10 Gummi worms suspended in sparkly water... what the hell?
PoolMan's Review: I am just like most of you out there in MRFH-readerdom (I used to be a mortal too!). I saw Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and was immediately under the impression that I could mimic Mike Myers' off-the-wall quotes perfectly. I was the man... telling my girlfriend she was "groovy, baby", and that sort of thing. That movie spawned a legion of office-comic impressionists, and instantly created itself a cult following. I couldn't be happier. But I might humbly suggest that if the trend between AP:IMM and AP:TSWSM continues, we needn't see a third one.
And that's where this flick shines. Mini-Me is a laugh riot. Seeing him run around doing evil things is endlessly amusing (as a local DJ on CFOX radio here in Vancouver said a few weeks back, "Any movie with a midget biting people in the nuts is okay with me. That's what we need more of. More midgets bitin' people in the nuts!" Hi Willy!) Fat Bastard is also a scream. Yes, there is a revolting scene with him in bed, but it didn't turn my stomach the way I was told it would. I guess cause I'm a guy, and would never catch the Bastard's fancy. Ewwwww... It's also really amusing seeing Rob Lowe as the young Number 2. He actually did a fantastic impression of his older self. Too bad it wasn't used more.
I have to agree with Justin on the subject of Felicity Shagwell; she's really extraneous (aside from pretty yummy eye candy). But when you make a movie about a "super sexy" British spy, you had better include a female lead! Oh well. Here's to the formula!
Anyways, TSWSM is still a lot of fun, but don't expect anything to really topple IMM for originality. Check it out when it hits video, for sure!
Kyle's Rating: At least the first one was good
Kyle's Review: I’m going to be harsh here, because the excellence of the first Austin Powers movie deserves it. The Spy Who Shagged Me is garbage. Yep, that’s right. GARBAGE!
A great soundtrack with that fantastic Madonna song is all I got out of this steaming pile. Yeah, there’s Mini-Me and Fat Bastard added to the mix. Heather Graham wears shagalicious 60’s garb. Dr. Evil’s portions are the highlights, though that isn’t saying much.
For me, TPWSM is just a mess, because they go out of their way to be bigger and better, but the whole time you get the sense this movie is a spoof of the first one. But the first Austin Powers (which ruled) was a spoof itself of the James Bond and other spy movies! A spoof of a spoof is not a funny spoof, it is garbage.
Yes, I bought this movie, so I’ll own it till the day I die. And I’ll probably even watch it again once or twice, because there are one or two amusing bits in there. But held up against the pure light of the first and endlessly entertaining original, The Spy Who Shagged Me just can’t hold up.
I do owe this movie one small thing: the cementing in my head that I am a better person than most of the unwashed masses out there going to movies (NOTE: if you are reading this review, then you are good. Revel is your superiority!). The first Austin Powers movie (did I mention how great the first one is? It is!) made about $53 million during its entire theater run. This inferior sequel made more than that in the first weekend. Argh! Damn you, easily fooled consumers! Damn you!
 Number Two, 60's version
|
- Cameos by Woody Harrelson, Burt Bacharach, Tim Robbins (!), and others
- Dr. Evil's sculpture on the volcano
- Austin's 1960's pad
- Swinger 1 and Swinger 2
- Mini Me's one line
- Obviously fake "blue screen" driving backgrounds
- Number 2's face is burned, a reference to Dr. Evil throwing him into the fire pit trap in the first Austin Powers movie
- When Austin and Felicity are talking to each other in one of the deleted scenes, Austin was supposed to say the line "You're going the right way for a smacked bottom". This line was also said by Mike Myers in the movie Shrek and in the "Beautiful Stranger" music video. [thanks Jared!]
Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?
Yes, lots of additional scenes play over the end credits, so stick around!
Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]
-
PoolMan's Predictions come through, folks! I said in my review of So I Married an Axe Murderer, "This film, along with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery both feature Mike playing two characters in the same film... Do you think he'll one-up himself and go for three next time?" Well la-de-da... I made an astonishingly obvious prediction, and it came true! Yay me!
Groovy Quotes
-
Scott: If you've got a time machine, why don't you just go back and kill Austin Powers when he's sitting on the crapper or something?
Dr. Evil: No, no, no.
Austin: Let's hop on the good foot and do the bad thing!
Dr. Evil: As you know, every diabolical scheme I've hatched has been thwarted by Austin Powers. And why is that, ladies and gentlemen?
Scott: Because you never kill him when you get the chance, and you're a dope?
Dr. Evil: The moon unit will be divided into two divisions: Moon Unit Alpha and Moon Unit Zappa.
Dr. Evil: You're not quite evil enough. You're semi-evil. You're quasi-evil. You're the margarine of evil. You're the Diet Coke of evil, just one calorie, not evil enough.
Felicity: Felicity Shagwell. Shagwell by name, shag-very-well by reputation.
Ivana: Do you know how we keep warm in Russia?
Austin: I can guess, baby.
Ivana: We play chess.
Austin: I guessed wrong.
Number Two: Dr. Evil, wouldn't it be easier to use your knowledge of the future to play the stock market? We could literally make trillions!
Dr. Evil: Why make trillions when we could make... billions?
Dr. Evil: [deep voice] Austin, I'm your father.
Austin: Really?
Dr. Evil: No, no, I can't back that up.
Dr. Evil: When the moon reaches it's appropriate lunar alignment, it will destroy Washington D.C.. You see, I've turned the moon into what I like to call a "Death Star."
Scot: [laughs]
Dr. Evil: What?
Scot: Nothing, Darth.
Dr. Evil: What did you call me?
Scot: Nothing. [coughing] Ripoff!
Dr. Evil: Bless you.
Fat Bastard: I want my baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back riiiiiiiibs!
Fat Bastard: I'm bigger than you are! I'm higher on the food chain!
DVD Review
-
As packed of a DVD as I've seen New Line do them! The animated menus are groovy, of course, but a little annoying when you want to get to something right away. Only the Widescreen version of the film is presented here (but that's okay!). Extras include another commentary by Mike Myers and Jay Roach (which seems a bit lackluster compared to the first Austin's commentary), 3 music videos (Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Melanie G), 4 trailers (3 for Austin 2, and one for the first movie), an astounding 21 deleted scenes (which are nearly all hilarious and some of the best deleted scenes ever included with a DVD), a "behind the scenes" documentary, a cameo menu (where you can read up on the actors and jump to their scenes), and a cast & crew menu. One of the coolest "easter eggs" can be found on this DVD. Go to the special features menu and wait for about a minute. Dr. Evil's spaceship comes on and leaves his logo, which takes you to another menu. Dr. Evil's menu includes Comedy Central's "The Dr. Evil Story", a couple mini-music videos found in the movie, and "Classic Schemes Gone Awry". Nothing great, but still an impressive hidden feature. I highly enjoyed this DVD (did I mention the deleted scenes? oh, I did).
Soundtrack Review
-
Semi-decent, with songs from Madonna and Lenny Kravitz. I think it should've been better, considering that they had two decades worth of music to gleam from.
If you liked this movie, try these:
This review page was last updated on 8.27.04
MRFH Home . Reviews . Findaflik . Features! . MRFH Forum
© 2004 Mutant Reviewers From Hell (Original Content). All Rights Reserved.
