Just prior to this film was receiving its Uk release (Spring '99) a trailer was put into circulation that gave indication of just how good this sequel was going to be. We were lead around what looked like a death star from Star Wars and just as you were maybe (depends on gullabitlity, I was fooled and I am a HUGE Star Wars fan) beginning to believe this was a trailer for the upcoming Phantom Menace film you were greeted with a resounding, "I suppose you were expecting someone else!" and there was Dr Evil. The movies catchline was:
'If you see one film this summer watch Star Wars, If you see two films this summer then watch this!'
To be completely honest with you, I sort of wish I had only see one film that summer and that it had been this but hey that's another op.
~Characters~
Austin Power
Powers is a British Spy from the sixties who when he managed to rid the world of his arch nemesis Dr Evil volunteered to go into deep freeze in case he ever returned. He is gradually adapting to the 90s and still clings to the sixties in his dress, sexual attitudes and lifestyle.
Victoria Kensington
The daughter of his original crime-fighting partner. Victoria is
an oxford graduate best described as academic, responsible and disgusted by Power's raging libido and lax attitudes to sex and lifestyle. He gradually manages to win her round however and as the film starts they are married.
Basil Exposition
The man in the secret service responsible for providing Austin with his assignments and as the time frame changes so do the length of his hair.
Dr Evil
Austin's arch nemesis who constantly holds the world to ransom with nuclear weapons. As the show starts he is trying to achieve a lasting relationship with his son courtesy of the Jerry Springer Show. He is constantly finding more foolish ways to attempt to kill Powers that enable him to easily escape, much to the chagrin of his son Scott who cannot understand why his father doesen't just shoot Powers.
Scott Evil
Unloved by his father on account of his only being quasi Evil (the diet coke of evil, not quite evil enough).
Scott loses patience with his father who always takes the long route to killing Powers and always shushes him when he suggests better ideas.
Mini-Me
An eighth size clone of Dr Evil who is the son that Dr Evil wanted but never got. Has a habit of humping stationary objects.
Felicity Shagwell
Beautiful US agent who helps Austin to fight crime and wears ridicuously small hot pants.
~Storyline~
The film kicks off with Austin Powers' (Myers) new bride to be turning on him with machine gun jubblies. She is actual fact a fembot controlled by Dr Evil, who is back with a new plan.
Power's arch-nemesis Dr Evil (Myers) has built a time machine and now goes back in time (to 1969) to steal Austin's mojo (libido). He does this through the help of a rogue Scottish guard called "Fat Bastard" (Myers). He then proceeds to hold the world to ransom for 100 billion dollars, an unheard of amount in that year.
In addition Dr Evil has now got a clone of himself called "mini-me" (who is 1/8 the size of him) to help him in his pursuit of World Domination and we get to see many of his cronies from the first film but thirty years younger.
Austin's new partner CIA agent Felicity Shagwell is played by the rather attractive Heather Graham and the sub-plot involves a developing romance between them in a 60s environment more familiar to Austin.
So with spoofs from all sorts of films and a gag-a-minute script it is easily as good as the first film.
~Cast~
Mike Myers plays three roles as Austin Powers and Dr Evil from the first film and the new character of fat bastard. Myers is simply fantastic in his roles. When you watch this film you do not see one man playing three different roles, you see three distinctive characters all incredibly well played. The new character nowhere near matches his original two though. Since I watched it for the first time I can still enjoy most of the film but I don't really think Fat Bastard adds much to it.
Heather Graham is a reasonable choice for this sixties CIA agent and is certainly a much more fun female lead than ELizabeth Hurley was. To be fair that was how the character was written for Miss Hurley but if you have watched both films you will know what I mean.
Seth Green who has a recurring role in Buffy is rather good as Scott Evil, some of his scenes are hilarious not least the Jerry Springer show with a rather appropriate title in the usual vein. He plays the whiney love child of Dr Evil and Frau Harbitioner with great ability, a good choice.
All the other characters seem as if the roles were written especially for them rather than the other way round which is at it should be. Rob Lowe and Robert Wagner are both excellent as Number Two at different points of the film, reminding us of a sixties bond villain perfectly.
~Soundtrack~
Absolutely fantastic the music is not only well chosen for the film seeming at times as if it were written especially but in addition it is a fantastic soundtrack just to own on CD so I recommend that too.
~Overall~
Overall this is a great film that the vast majority of people will enjoy thoroughly for me it really is the finished article; great cast, funny, great storyline and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
"I put the grrr in swinger, baby!" a deliciously randy Austin Powers coos near the ... more
beginning ofThe Spy Who Shagged Meand if the imagination of Austin creator Mike Myers seems to have sagged a bit, his energy surely hasn't. This friendly, go-for-broke s...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
"I put the grrr in swinger, baby!" a deliciously randy Austin Powers coos near the ... more
beginning ofThe Spy Who Shagged Meand if the imagination of Austin creator Mike Myers seems to have sagged a bit, his energy surely hasn't. This friendly, go-for-broke s...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
First he fought for the Crown. Now he's fighting for the Family Jewels. Austin Powers is ... more
back baby! Mike Myers returns in this blockbuster sequel as the British secret agent and thwarts international madmen and shags beautiful women like mad man! ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
First he fought for the Crown, now he's fighting for the family jewels. Austin Powers is ... more
back baby!MIKE MYERS returns in this blockbuster sequel as the British secret agent that thwarts international madmen and shags beautiful women like mad, man! But ...
Advantages: Supremely funny throughout. Myers is great as three of the top characters. Good sound track. Probably improves upon the original which is noval for a sequel. Disadvantages: maybe just a tad too similiar to the original
![Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me [DVD] [1999]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78545674.jpg "Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me [DVD] [1999]")
Aug 25th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
