Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

    
The second sorry (but not disappointing, since the first film wasn't 
that great) sequel of the season, AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED  
ME, is a long, loud, innocently crude, slap-happy sloppy, anything-
for-a-laugh Mike Myers love-in.  The SNL vet plays *three* roles this 
time-- the snaggletoothed title character, his far-funnier arch neme-
sis (Dr. Evil), and said schemer's Scottish henchman, a kilted menace 
called Fat Bastard.  (Think a prosthetic job even larger than Eddie's 
Nutty Professor.)  The plot involves a plot to steal AP's mojo vis-a-
vis a "time machine" trip to the sixties.  There's also another at-
tempt to blackmail the government, this time with a moon-mounted las-
er gun.  Yawn, baby!  

As in the first film, story is again secondary to send-up-- AP 2 is a 
densely packed parade of sex jokes, spy spoofs, and "Laugh In"-style 
segues.  There are slow spots a-plenty, too, and no cumulative momen-
tum to speak of... not that it matters.  Myers and Company deliver at 
least a dozen orgasmic belly laughs-- tear-inducers on the order of, 
say, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.  (What, the Farrelly Brothers 
didn't make you laugh?  Lighten up, man.)  Much of it is anal humor 
(calling Dr. Freud!), plus a naughty-bits-behind-stuff credits se-
quence and a priceless pair playing with penis slang.  ("It looks 
like a giant..." "Dick, get over here.")  

Liz Hurley makes an appearance at the opening, while Heather Graham 
(LOST IN SPACE, BOOGIE NIGHTS) handles the remaining Powers Girl dut-
ies.  (She's adorable if useless.)  Rob Lowe plays Robert Wagner's 
60's self, complete with uncanny vocal impersonation.  *The* scene-
stealer, however, is wee one Verne J. Troyer as a 1/8th-sized clone 
of Dr. Evil.  He's a keeper.  Eh, as a make-sense narrative, AUSTIN 
POWERS 2 is a fairly dreadful film.  You'll laugh your ass off, tho, 
and that's all that really counts.  No?  With Seth Green, Michael 
York, Mindy Sterling, and Jerry Springer as himself.  Jay Roach again 
pretends to direct.  (Rated "PG-13"/94 min.)

Grade: B-

Copyright 1999 by Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies as MOVIE HELL: It Looks Like a Giant...