Austin Powers in Goldmember is a funny, funny film. Alas, it is not a great film; many jokes are recycled from the previous films, the protagonist undergoes no character development, the eponymous villain is probably the weakest of Mike Myers' creations, and it sags badly towards the end. But that really doesn't matter. The film is funny and it makes us laugh: we want to see jokes about poo and farting and urinating and body parts and fat people and subtitle innuendos, we want the catchphrases, we want to see Mini-Me getting beaten up and we want to see which film gets parodied. And that is all one can ask for when watching an Austin Powers movie.
Austin Powers in Goldmember sees the return of Austin Powers, the spoof of British spies, sexually stuck in the 60's but jumping around time from the present to the 70's and back again in an effort to make the word 'shag' part of the common language. All the old gang return to the party, along with newcomers (and surprisingly good) Beyonce Knowles, as the blaxploitation-era spoof, Foxy Cleopatra, and Michael Caine, gamely parodying himself as Austin's father, Nigel Powers. The story, what there is of it, has the Dutch villain, Goldmember, wanting to take over the world or something, you know, the usual. However, the theme of fathers and sons and their interaction is the most prominent aspect of the movie. This is not surprising, considering that the creation of Austin Powers was a love letter from Mike Myers to his dearly departed father, so addressing this relationship seems appropriate (if a little strained in the film itself.) I will not reveal the secrets of the movie, as the comedic value of them is quite possibly worth the price of admission themselves, and the first fifteen minutes alone is nearly perfect funny stuff. If you like the adolescent male humour that is Austin Powers, then you will be in for more of the same with Goldmember, laughing until you puke. If not, then what the hell are you reading this review for anyway?
Rating: VID
