Release Date: July 26, 2002
Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Verne Troyler, Mindy Sterling
Directed by: Jay Roach
Written by: Mike Myers, Michael McCullers
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (sexual innuendo, crude humor and language)
Given the success of the original Austin Powers (if only as a cult hit) and its 1999 sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me, it’s no wonder the filmmakers were granted a huge budget with which to make the third and supposedly final Austin Powers film the biggest and most elaborate of them all. But all the money in the world could never prevent the franchise from being something of an acquired taste. And so Austin Powers in Goldmember, a comedy that does everything it should and more to please fans, is just as senselessly fun as its predecessors, but by making the same mistakes as the past two films, it doesn’t quite hit the level of quality entertainment.
The movie’s large-scale production value is blatantly obvious during the opening sequence, which involves a big-budget helicopter/car chase and some of the most flattering cameo appearances in Hollywood history ... all crammed into the first five minutes. It’s a hilarious and perfect start to the fun that Mike Myers and director Jay Roach (Austin Powers and its sequel) create with Goldmember. Aside from the altogether pointless story and an unnecessary amount of the usual bathroom jokes, Myers and Roach present a funny romp of parodies, musical numbers, and memorable characters and cameos.
The games begin with Austin Powers capturing his arch nemesis, Dr. Evil, and putting him in a maximum security prison. Soon after, though, Austin learns that his father, Nigel Powers (Michael Caine), has been kidnapped, and the mojo-driven secret agent finds himself traveling to the year 1975 to face off against an unusual villain named Goldmember. Austin also meets an old flame, Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyoncé Knowles of the R&B group Destiny’s Child), and the two join forces to save Nigel and unravel another one of Dr. Evil’s plots to take over the world -- this time involving a plot to melt the polar ice caps and flood the earth with the help of the mysterious Goldmember.
Like the other Austin Powers films, Mike Myers cleverly works several parodies into the story (mainly from James Bond films), and his ability to play more than one character shines brilliantly. Here he not only plays Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and the repulsive Fat Bastard, but also the title character, Goldmember, and again, he doesn’t fail in giving audiences a good look at the comic genius that was born doing similarly silly characters on “Saturday Night Live.” He also writes an amusing (though pointless) story with Michael McCullers (Undercover Brother) and cleverly sets up the spoofs and jokes throughout.
Very similar to the other films in the trilogy, though, Goldmember suffers from excessive raunchiness and a story that focuses so much on setting up the jokes that it forgets to be a well-rounded chain of events. Of course, a zany comedy like this typically ignores trying to have a solid storyline, but when this happens, any situation you put the characters in loses the sense of credibility all good movies should have. Otherwise, the movie feels like it hasn’t really gotten anywhere or done much other than throw us dozens of gags and gimmicks. Essentially, when the movie ends, it feels like the third act hasn’t even begun yet, and it’s almost as if we’ve been cheated.
You need talent to get away with doing that, and luckily for the Austin Powers franchise, the genius of Mike Myers has made the gags and gimmicks worth sitting through the otherwise idiotic movies. Especially in Goldmember, there are enough surprises and elaborate jokes to give it serious consideration as the best film in the trilogy. Without a doubt, fans will be delighted, and that means Myers and director Roach have done their jobs; it doesn’t mean, however, that movies like the Austin Powers films should be regarded as some of the greatest comedies ever made.
all contents © 2002 Andy Zientek