User Reviews for Austin Powers in Goldmember

drqshadow

6/10 5 years ago

Mike Myers is literally everywhere in his third romp as the super suave (and super dated) gentleman spy, playing four significant parts under hefty amounts of makeup and gear. He's still surprisingly funny, as is the film itself, although the screen often feels terribly crowded and the constant diversions and subplots get carried away.

Much more than the two preceding films, Goldmember is a Python-esque collage, a string of skits and strung-out gags with a loose connecting narrative wound in-between. It's joyfully energetic, like a toddler, with an attention span to match. The goofs and send-ups themselves range from hilarious to beaten-to-death (particularly the dumb obsession with one character's absurdly huge mole, which is trotted out in at least three different scenes) and occasionally lean on a weirdly hyper-focused topical humor that's showing its age now. Many of the old bits from preceding films are rolled back out for an encore, but they're matched at least shot-for-shot with new segments that, surprisingly, hold their own.

It's particularly important that the jokes land, because the plot is mostly scraps and stabs. Michael Caine is an inspired choice as Austin's long-lost father, but the two don't get much screen time together and it feels like a wasted opportunity. Beyoncé's take on the classic blaxploitation-era heroine type is spirited, if light and inessential. Despite the shortcomings, it's still good for a few big laughs and my wife and I reference it somewhat regularly. I prefer it to The Spy Who Shagged Me, though it can't hope to match the heart, balance or ingenuity of the original.

Like - Dislike - 12

Reply to drqshadow

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Reply by Peuxr

4 weeks ago

@drqshadow I was thinking: it's weird that in the previous movie Dr. Evil almost fooled Austin to think he was his father (mocking that Star Wars scene) and though they made a solid backstory using Nigel Powers to link both Austin and Dr. Evil and turning them brothers - adding up to Dr. Evil's Belgian past, previously mentioned -, it seems like a last minute call... Like why would Austin even think Dr. Evil would be his father, since he had some sort of relationship with Nigel all along? I know, it's silly of me to even mention that, while many other things in the franchise suffers from a huge lack of logic and they are mostly worried about make 'em goofy than logical lol<br /> <br /> But the main problem with that plot is that it could be the reason the Austin Powers movie never got a fourth installment, like what it would be about? Probably Dr. Evil and Austin teaming up to take Scott down!? Both Austin and Doctor Evil works very well in their own inner-circle but both characters are so different, not only in their personalities but also in the way their individually interact with other characters, hardly both cast reunites... And then what? Dr. Evil would be good only because now he was Austin's brother? I don't know. It's hard to imagine...<br /> <br /> But sadly they lost the timing to put out there a fourth movie, which is a pity cause I also think the actors got better playing their roles, especially Mike Myers playing these two. Although I not sure what it would be about or how they would make it work, I have a slightly feeling that if the fourth movie was produced back then it could be the best of all. If they still come up with a fourth movie nowadays they'll always have the time jumping excuse, but well, they would have to make double of the effort to make it work, otherwise it would be a shitshow.

Reply - Like - Deslike - 10

Reply by drqshadow

4 weeks ago

@peuxr I think you've nailed it; Austin and Dr. Evil work too well as antagonists to cooperate for more than a silly closing act. I don't want to see a redemption angle for Dr. E, I want to see him continue mis-reading the room and acting like a total weirdo. In this sense, it's probably a good thing that they never made a fourth installment. It also seems that Mike Myers lost a lot of his mojo straight after AP3. Another good reason to leave well enough alone.

Reply - Like - Deslike - 00

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User Reviews for: Austin Powers in Goldmember

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