|
Directed
By: Jay Roach Starring: Mike Myers x 3, Heather Graham, Seth
Green, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe,
Will Ferrell Rated: PG-13 (Sexually Suggestive / Gross-out
Humor) Running Time: 95 Min.
In
this, the first sequel to Austin Powers: International Man
of Mystery, the super-groovy secret agent once again battles
the sinister Dr. Evil. This time, Dr. Evil has travelled back
in time to steal Austin's "Mojo", and Austin must travel back
to the year 1969 to retrieve it.
Buy
This Poster!
Austin
Powers 2 is basically the same formula as the first, including
variations on most of the same jokes and situations, (But
then, isn't that what being the sequel to a hit movie is all
about? Yeah, baby! Yeah!), and Mike Myers, as Austin, Dr.
Evil, and baby-craving Scottish henchman Fat Bastard, (yes,
you read it correctly), does it with style. There's more Dr.
Evil here than in the first, and the film has a lot of fun
showing us his sensitive, yet still evil, side.
While
most of the film's humor follows the style of the first Austin
film, there are times that it lapses into the gross-out There's
Something About Mary style for no apparent reason. I won't
describe any of those scenes, except to say that most of them
are brought to us compliments of Fat Bastard. ('nuf said?)
I
also won't mention all the holes in the plot, since the characters
in the film do a great job at showing blatant disregard for
those holes, sometimes pointing them out for us! They also
show no regard for the fact that they rip off the plot devices
of many other films besides the obvious James Bond, Matt Helm,
and Our Man Flint series. Those other films include Back to
the Future, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and even Star Wars!
I
found Austin Powers 2 to be funnier than the first, but not
better by any means. I do, in fact, prefer the first Austin
Powers film to this one. There is a slightly different tone
to Austin Powers 2 (Fat Bastard), that doesn't fit with the
first film (Fat Bastard), and the changing styles of humor
(Fat Bastard), usually slow the pace of the film to a standstill.
Another departure from the first film are its musical numbers,
which are funny, but not really necessary.
Finally,
I must mention one performance in the film that stands above
the rest, and it's not by Mike Myers... Rob Lowe, as "Young
Number 2" does a brilliant impersonation of Robert Wagner
("Number 2"), that has to be heard to be believed. So perfect,
in fact, that many may think that Robert Wagner dubbed his
voice over Rob Lowe's.
One
last note: If you see this film, watch through the end credits;
you won't be sorry.
Allen
J. Vestal
A.J.'s
Place: Movies & More
|
