film: review

> AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER (2002)
Give Mike Myers a gold penis and watch him shine!

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael Caine

Directed by: Jay Roach

Written by: Mike Myers & Michael McCullers

Genre: Comedy/Spy Spoof

Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Mike Myers, Mike Myers, Mike Myers, and Mike Myers return (as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and now Goldmember) for more well-executed toilet humor. You have to hand it to the guy. After the series' first entry (International Man of Mystery) who could have envisioned a franchise in the making? And who could imagine each film following that original making tons more money than its successor? At a time when Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Norm MacDonald have all but fizzled out, Myers has stood up to the test of time to be the only real consistently successful SNL member of the last few years.

Myers plays four unique and individual characters in Goldmember. Anyone reading this review is probably already familiar with our hero spy Austin Powers, his arch-enemy Dr. Evil, and one of his disgusting associates Fat Bastard. The new creation this time around is Goldmember, who received his name from a hilarious freak accident. Total nonsense ensues as can be expected. We find out more about Austin and Dr. Evil's relationship, we get to meet Austin's dad (played well by Michael Caine), and Austin (of course) gets a fresh super-sexy swingin' partner in Foxy Cleopatra (Beyoncé Knowles).

What works in every film, is that Myers has characters he helped create and therefore can play each perfectly as he sees fit. These films are solely on his shoulders, and he carries them to perfection. You have to believe that each had a script and were worked out thoroughly before filming began, but part of what makes them fun seems to be a lot of the improvised and seemingly spontaneous humor that was discovered in the moment. I can picture the director (of all 3 films) and Myers caught in a moment and one of them saying "Oh hey, try this, that could be funny!" Fans of past Powers' films should find good laughs here as well.

*Supposedly Jay Roach's cut of the film weighed in at just under 3 hours, cutting out nearly half for the final theatrical version! Cameos by Heather Graham, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Hurley (there are already tons in this version) a song and dance number from the two "Number 2" characters, and much, much more had to be removed. Here's hoping the DVD comes packed!

I saw this film at the Tinseltown theaters on upper Peach Street in Erie.

PROs: More of the same is a good thing. Some great cameos. Goldmember was hilarious!

CONs: Jay Roach cut out over an hour and a half of fun and humor! Fook yu!

(02-814)

related links:

Goldmember - official site