Earlier
this month, I complained of the uninspired goings-on in Men in Black 2. I felt
that it was waste of good talent, lacking in energy and nothing more than a rehash
of the first film. It could be argued that this latest installment in the Austin
Powers sequel is also recycled. That may be the case to a certain degree, but
the major difference here, is that this movie is damn funny, despite a lack of
plot and the inclusion of several familiar gags.
Austin
Powers in Goldmember features the super spy once again doing battle with Dr. Evil.
Also returning are Mini Me, Scott Evil, and Fat Bastard. In addition to these
familiar characters, we have Beyonce Knowles (from the R & B group Destiny's
Child) as heroine Foxxy Cleopatra, Michael Caine as Nigel Powers (papa Austin),
and new villain Goldmember, a limber Dutchman with a most unusual body part.
Right
out of the gate this movie had me in stitches with it's brilliantly conceived
opening sequence which features several cameos by some of Hollywood's most powerful
entertainers. (I will not reveal who they are, but trust me when I tell you they're
huge.) What follows is a go-for-broke comedy that features a joke about every
two seconds. While this Austin entry does offer up much crude and extremely infantile
humor, I found myself laughing throughout. Mike Myers is one of the few funnymen
in the movies that can get away with a fart joke.
Myers
more than earns his paycheck here seemingly disappearing into four different parts.
While his Goldmember character isn't as memorable as his others, I admire his
energy and exhaustive effort at making the audience laugh. Knowles took me by
surprise. While this is hardly a character of depth, her Foxxy Cleopatra is extremely
likable and a pleasant homage to 70's icon Pam Grier. As expected, Caine is picture-perfect
as Austin's dad, although he's surprisingly underused in this movie. Verne Troyer
is still a hoot as Mini Me and Seth Green is equally hilarious as Scott Evil (at
one point in the film he suspiciously resembles Brian Grazer and during another,
director Ron Howard).
While
there is no doubt that this is Myers' movie, director Jay Roach continues to prove
his worth as a great comedy director. This movie is well paced and Roach, more
often than not, seems to know what jokes work best. He's also assembled an incredible
cast of bit parts that would make disaster film-maker Irwin Allen proud. Sadly,
there is no sign of Heather Graham, Elizabeth Hurley, Rob Lowe or Will Farrell,
but upon watching the movie, there really didn't seem to be any room.
I
will probably be attacked for my more than favorable review of this absolutely
hilarious film, but the fact of the matter is, it made me laugh my ass off. It
doesn't matter that it's full of bathroom humor, nor does it matter that many
of the gags appeared in the other films. This movie is so alive with energy and
gut-busting humor, that I can forgive it for it's familiarity.
Mike
Myers is a comic genius and Austin Powers remains a positively goofy and immensely
entertaining character. I can only hope that Myers and Roach don't retire this
franchise. Should they choose to, Goldmember is a perfect note to end on. I haven't
laughed harder during a movie this year.
