Release Date: June 11, 1999
Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Robert Wagner, Michael York, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Verne Troyer, Elizabeth Hurley
Directed by: M. Jay Roach
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (sexual innuendo, crude humor)
Comic Mike Myers returns with the sequel to his cult hit from 1997, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The latest misadventures of everyone's favorite go-go superspy feature a brand new cast of extras as well as Myers in multiple roles. And although this has suddenly become the hottest thing going (where its predecessor was a come-and-gone summer movie), there's nothing here that you haven't seen before.
Of course, that may have been just what the producers at New Line were hoping for. Approached with the right attitude, this movie can be a lot of fun -- more fun, in fact, than the original, because audiences have had preparation for this unique brand of humor. A lot of the great comic elements from the first are re-used in the new edition, perhaps with greater refinement as well: the popular sight and sound gags are there, as well as cameos from a number of Hollywood's A-list. Although it's been admitted that Austin Powers 2 was just a recycling bin for all of the leftover shtick, that makes no difference to audiences who've come for more of the same. Quite possibly this approach has saved this film from nose-diving.
This go-round, Austin Powers (Myers) is teamed up with CIA hottie Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham) to once again battle Dr. Evil (also Myers). But Dr. Evil connives to destroy Powers by traveling back in time and stealing Powers' "mojo." (This is possible because Powers was cryogenically frozen in the 1960's in case Evil would ever threaten the world again.) That done, Evil could then return to the present and best the de-mojoed Austin. The plan is filled with comic screw-ups that involve Dr. Evil's right-hand man, Number Two (Robert Wagner, reprising his role); Dr. Evil's son, Scott (Seth Green, also back for a second turn); and a new pint-sized duplication of Evil, Mini Me (Verne Troyer).
The plot, of course, is so inessential to the movie that it's almost non-existent. Fans will come to see the bits that Myers does in three different roles (in addition to Powers and Evil, he also does a throwaway character called Fat Bastard). Of the lot, Dr. Evil is by far the best, allowing Myers to use every bit of his talented range. Myers is a bit confined and uninspired as Austin, and Fat Bastard hardly has enough time to give anything worthwhile.
Supports from Wagner, Green, and Troyer are all effective, although Heather Graham does not do nearly as well as Elizabeth Hurley in the sidekick role. Her character has little to offer, and without the standard guy-chases-girl subplot, Graham doesn't know what to do in the role. She's also not as good with the chatty dialogue.
Little, if anything, depends on the movie's quality, although it is more solid than the original. The movie made more in its opening weekend than the original did in its entire run, thus emphasizing the following that Austin Powers has developed, and for a summer flick, the bucks are the only thing that counts.
all contents © 1999 Craig Roush