Movie Info
Movie Name: Austin Powers in Goldmember
Studio: Gratitude International
Genre(s): Comedy
Release Date(s): July 26, 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
There’s a new Austin in town!
Doctor Evil (Mike Myers) has returned to Earth and plotting his greatest project yet…Preparation H! With a plan to bring down a meteor to destroy the polar ice caps, Dr. Evil enlists a ’70s criminal mastermind named Goldmember (also Mike Myers). Fortunately, Austin Powers (also Mike Myers) is back and teamed with Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyoncé Knowles) to stop Doctor Evil and Goldmember. When Doctor Evil finds himself favoring his son Scott Evil (Seth Green), his loyal ally Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) might be the key that Austin Powers needs to stop Evil and Goldmember…but a revelation by Austin’s father (Michael Caine) could change Austin’s life forever.
Because they had to try to out-gross Fat Bastard…
Directed by Jay Roach, Austin Powers in Goldmember is the third film in the Austin Powers series and follows Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me from 1999. The film was met with much less favorable reviews but had huge box-office returns.
While I loved Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, I found Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me rather repetitive (despite having some great stuff like Mini-Me). With that in mind, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me looks wholely original when compared to Goldmember.
The Austin Powers movies tried to get bigger and bigger. The first film was rather small, but by this film you have tons of guest stars and people who wanted to be in an Austin Powers film…unfortunately the writing never improved from the first films. It was the same jokes (with a little tweak) in The Spy Who Shagged Me and the same jokes in Goldmember. The addition of Mini Me in the second film was great…the Goldmember character…not so great.
That’s right…I’m Foxxy!!!
The cast is held together by Mike Myers’ continued energy but it feels like it is waning a bit with the script. Beyoncé Knowles isn’t a very good co-star (though I like her ’70s style) and Michael Caine is wasted as Austin’s father (though it is a good idea). Verne Troyer still is fun as Mini-Me and Fred Savage has a sizeable mole…I mean role as the Mole. Regulars Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling, and Michael York also return as Basil Exposition, Frau Farbissina, and Number Two. The movie is loaded with celebrities including the big opening number with guest stars in the Austin Powers movie. Celebrities appearing include Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, Danny Devito, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Britney Spears, Nathan Lane, Clint Howard, Matthew Sweet, Katie Couric, the Osbournes, Burt Bacharach, John Travolta, Robe Lowe, and Kristen Johnston. It is way too much and instead of being fun, it just slows down the film which has a very limited plot.
It’s a hard knock life
The movie does still have the fun “swinging” feel of the previous entries which borrows from old spy series, but also has a ’70s flashback scene Once again however, there is little new with the film or the look of it…even the old shadow trick feels tired instead of bringing laughs.
Austin Powers in Goldmember is the worst of the three films and despite some laughs a rather big letdown. The movie was a huge success so I’m surprised with its financial windfall it still didn’t spawn a sequel. As of now, Austin Powers has had his last big swinging deal, baby…and that is fine with me.
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