# Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

### reviewed by
Akiva Gottlieb

    Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
    **

rated PG-13 New Line Cinema starring Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Verne Troyer, Elizabeth Hurley, Kristen Johnson, Gia Carides written by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers directed by Jay Roach

There's no denying that "Saturday Night Live" alum Mike Myers has talent. He can write, act, produce and improvise. But most of all he's just really damn funny. A few years ago, he was best known for "Wayne's World", a lowbrow pre-Adam Sandler comedy about two slackers who get their own TV show. The film spawned a sequel in 1993, and after that Myers took a four-year hiatus. He made a grand return in 1997 with "Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery", a 60's spy spoof featuring himself as the shagadelic, unhygienic title character (and as his nemesis, Dr. Evil). The film grossed 50 million in theatres but became a huge hit on video. Like I said before, Myers is really damn funny, but you wouldnt know it from his latest, "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"; the lackluster sequel to the other "Powers" film.

Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) is back and this time he has brought an even more eclectic band of characters to help him take over the world. To act as his evil sidekick, replacing his quasi-evil son (Seth Green), he has made a clone of himself; a person 1/8 his size whom he affectionately calls Mini-Me (Verne Troyer). He also has invented a "time machine" which will enable him to return to 60's Britain.

Meanwhile, Austin Powers has just found out that the woman whom he believed to be his wife (Elizabeth Hurley) was actually a robot working for Dr. Evil. In order to stop Austin from plotting his revenge, Dr. Evil sends out Fat Bastard (Mike Myers, once again) to steal Austin's "mojo" (basically his libido, but for Austin, it's the reason why women fall for him despite his many flaws, which explains a lot). Austin then teams up with Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham) to retrieve the mojo from the hands of Dr. Evil. But Dr. Evil has also created a "laser" which he will use to destroy every city in the world.

While the first "Austin Powers" was occasionally very witty, the sequel is only funny about once every 15 minutes, and all of its humor is quite dumb. In many ways, "Austin Powers" is a very conventional movie franchise. The first film was a hit because of its originality and style, and it did well because of word-of-mouth. The sequel is a typical Hollywood creation, as the humor is dumbed-down for the kids and the wit and sharpness of the former is gone.

Much of "Austin Powers" humor comes from the audacious sexual references that are somehow harnessed to just avoid an "R" rating. There are dick jokes aplenty in the sequel, and many bodily fluids are passed around ("South Park", anyone?). A little-known fact about "Austin Powers" is that half of the film is improvised. Director Jay Roach keeps the camera rolling and it is usually then that he catches Mike Myers' comedic skill.

"The Spy Who Shagged Me" will undoubtedbly rake in millions at the box office, and many sequels will follow. Maybe, just maybe, one of those sequels will provide something as fresh and new as the original film.

Note: The entire opening weekend was sold out, and many of my friends told me just about every joke in the film before I got to see it. Maybe that is a factor; maybe not. Also, what's up with the "Star Wars" references? It is a sad comment on society when "The Spy Who Shagged Me" outdoes "Star Wars" at the box office and then laughs in its face.

a review by Akiva Gottlieb, The Teenage Movie Critic akiva@excite.com http://teenagemoviecritic.8m.com (!!!!!!new site address!!!!!!)

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