AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME

CAST

Mike Myers
Heather Graham
Michael York
Verne Troyer
Robert Wagner
Rob Lowe
Seth Green
Mindy Sterling
Kristen Johnston
Elizabeth Hurley
Will Ferrell

DIRECTED BY

M. Jay Roach

PURCHASE

DVD

Soundtrack

Time: 95 mins.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Slapstick Comedy

Let's just say if you're a fan of the original, you're going to like this film. However, much like the huge difference between ACE VENTURA and it's sequel, you will be somewhat disappointed in THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME, which is a lot grosser and not as witty and clever. That's not to say it doesn't have it's hysterical moments, they just seem to come less often than in the first. Myers is still brilliant in this film, though he seemed to give more of the choice comic moments to his other characters, Dr. Evil and Fat Bastard, than to Austin, but in the end who really cares. As long as it's funny – nobody does sexual sight gags better – he'll get my butt in the theater begging for more.

This time around Austin goes back in time to reclaim his "mojo" which Dr. Evil has stolen with his brand new time machine. Austin teams up with the delicious Felicity Shagwell (Graham), secret agent and unbiased shagger, to reclaim his mojo and stop Dr. Evil from destroying the planet with his giant laser. Perched on the moon no less. Dr. Evil's troop of irregulars are back including his son Scott (Green), and No. 2 (played by both Robert Wagner and Rob Lowe as 1969 No. 2). His new evil henchmen include Fat Bastard, a grotesquely overweight Scotsman and Mini-Me (Troyer), an evil clone one-eighth his size.

Felicity is thrilled to be working with her hero Austin Powers, who she's secretly in love with. They spend much of the movie trying to locate Dr. Evil and evading his henchmen. In one of the most disgusting scenes I've ever seen, Felicity is forced to sleep with Fat Bastard in order to implant a tracker in a body orifice better left unsaid. They finally find Dr. Evil's lair on the moon (don't ask) and Austin is forced to choose between saving the world or saving Felicity's life. In the end, he not only saves everyone, but he gets his mojo back. As if there was ever any doubt.

Austin: "The 70s and the 80s? I've looked into it. There's a gas shortage and A Flock of Seagulls. That's about it."

There are some wonderful performances in this film that are well-worth the price of admission and they come from Myers as Dr. Evil and Verne Troyer as Mini-Me. Their relationship is a gold mine of humor and they milk every second they have onscreen together. Troyer is amazingly funny, mimicing Dr. Evil's mannerisms to a tee. Graham is sweet and drop-dead sexy, a hard thing pull off. I found Fat Bastard to be more annoying than funny, though he had a few lines kids will be quoting for the rest of the summer. Myers again has proven that he's an amazing physical comedian who will go to any lengths for a joke. That said the film does drag a bit more than the first, mainly because Austin is the same character put in basically the same situations. Hopefully, if there's a third installment, and I have no doubt after the opening box office that there will be, Myers will try to do something a little different with the story and characters next time. He's certainly clever enough. I have no doubt that this will be one of the most successful films of the year and though I laughed alot I just wish it was better.

| | | | |