Rating: 
Summary: Uneven But Funny Sequel (Film: 3 stars; DVD: 3 stars)
Review: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" was one of the best comedies of the 90s. Equal parts screwball spoof, romantic comedy and satire, it introduced two of comedy history's best characters and several memorable supporting characters. Overlooked in theaters, it became a cult classic on home video. The sequel grossed four times its predecessor's take and established Mike Myers as a comedy superstar.
It's funny, but less cohesive. In the original, Dr. Evil is only slightly more engaging than Austin Powers. Here, Dr. Evil is even BETTER, but Austin is reduced to a catchphrase-spouting cartoon. The problem begins with Austin's wife Vanessa's unmasking as a Fembot. In the extras, director Jay Roach claims the film is not bound by limitations. It seems Roach defines "limitations" as "developments that are true to the characters and make sense." It's forgivable when followed by a boisterous and silly dance number, but it still cheapens the character.
From there the disparity widens. Having already deconstructed the supervillain better than serious revisionists, Roach and Myers kick back and have fun with Dr. Evil's world. Highlights include Rob Lowe's dead-on Robert Wagner impression as Young Number Two, Will Ferrell's first funny role as Mustafa, and a hilarious love triangle between Dr. Evil, his son Scott and the dimunitive clone Mini-Me.
Austin, meanwhile, meets his female match, Felicity Shagwell. Heather Graham is gorgeous, her performance is great, but her story is hollow. In the original's commentary, Roach describes the evolution of Austin and Vanessa's relationship, but here, Roach and Myers have forgotten the lesson. The development is clumsy and uninteresting. And the retch-inducing gross-out humor is off-putting.
The DVD extras are excessive. The "Spyography" and deleted scenes are hilarious. The music videos are OK pop, except for Lenny Kravitz's perverse cover of the Guess Who's protest "American Woman." But the rest.... Eh. If you ever wanted to hear Myers wax pretentious about a goofy comedy, here you go.
But most viewers aren't examining this film as high cinematic art. They want an entertaining ninety minutes, and it is. It's not as well crafted, but when you're giggling at Dr. Evil and Mini-Me's duet, you won't care.
Rating: 
Summary: Shag yourself rotten....
Review: ....with Austin on his second cinematic romp through time that's even better than the first. More bad puns, great cameos, and spoofed nastiness with Dr. Evil and a great new character, Mini-Me. Throw some popcorn in the microwave and be prepared to be amused.
Rating:
Summary: A Sequel that is just as good as the first
Review: Austin Powers is one of the funniest characters to every grace the big screen. You have to love what Mike Myers has to put together and this movie just adds to his resume.
Austin Powers(Myers) is in the future now. He no longer lives in the 60's but the 90's. He's married to Vanessa(Hurley) and things seem great for Britians greatest agent. That is until he finds out Vanessa is a fembot and Dr.Evil(Hurley) is loose again.
Dr. Evil has used his time machine to go to the past. He uses a time machine to steal Austin Powers mojo and he goes back to the 60's. Austin must get his mojo back so he pursues the evil Dr. When he gets back to the 60's he teams up with Felecity Shagwell(Graham). It's up to the two to get Austin's mojo back, and stop Dr. Evil's deathstar before it destroys the world.
Mike Myers is the man. I laugh every time I see this movie. The jokes never get old and neither does Myers. The man is a comic genius. He can use all the comedic elements. Even if you don't like the joke, you'll laugh at how dumb it is. His duel performance as Powers in Evil is great. Fat Bastard is also great. Get into my belly.
I liked Heather Graham a lot in the movie. She does exactly what shes suppose to do, and thats to look great on screen. It's her best performance behind Rollergirl, and if you liked her there you will here too. It's a fun character, and she is hot in the movie.
I loved all the cameos in the movie. Tim Robbins as the president is great. Will Ferrell being back as well is funny. You'll have fun watching them.
This one can hold it's own with the first movie. The jokes are great. The spy spoof stuff is awesome. If you want to sit down for a fun 90 minutes then pick this one up. If you don't like stupid slack stick comedy then don't watch this. If you do go get it now.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious
Review: All truth be told, the only reason I orginally bought this movie was because Steve Wilkos was in it.I didn't see the first movie, so I really wasn't sure what to expect from this one. However, I quickly found out that previous knowledge of what happens in the first movie isn't needed to enjoy the second one. Basic plot: Austin Powers is trying to save the world and meets some chick along the way that helps him. The movie opens with Austin and Vanessa on their honeymoon. Their marital bliss soon shattered when Austin realizes Vanessa is a fem-bot sent by Dr. Evil to kill him. Since the robot didn't work, Dr. Evil steals Austin's mojo! The rest of the movie is Austin and Felicity (Heather Graham) trying to get Austin's mojo back and stop Dr. Evil from going through with the Alan Parsons Project, which will slam an asteriod into the Earth while Dr. Evil and his crew are safe in outer space. There is a lot of sexual humor that isn't appropriate for younger audiences. It is definitely a PG-13 film.
|
