“I just hope my wire fighting team is ready!” —Fat Bastard
Today’s quick review: Austin Powers in Goldmember. When Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) joins forces with eccentric supervillain Goldmember (Mike Myers) in a plan to take over the Earth, Austin Powers (Mike Myers) brings FBI agent Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles) forward in time from the 70s to help stop them. But before the two spies can take on Dr. Evil, Austin must first patch up his relationship with his estranged father Nigel (Michael Caine).
Austin Powers in Goldmember is a spy comedy and the third Austin Powers movie. Goldmember is a refinement of the formula established by the previous two movies. It keeps the same expansive cast, colorful world, and slapstick humor, but it drops the 60s throwback angle in favor of even more pop culture references and an original story. The result is a smooth watch doesn’t hit the comedic highs of the rest of the series but still carves out its own niche.
Goldmember takes advantage of the groundwork laid by its predecessors. Story dynamics like the rivalry between Dr. Evil’s son Scott (Seth Green) and clone Mini-Me (Verne J. Troyer) are taken for granted, letting the movie dive into its adventure without a lot of preamble. Newcomers like Foxxy and Nigel fit comfortably into the canon, and the 70s flavor feels like a natural progression from the 60s focus of the previous films.
Even so, Goldmember is missing some of its spark. It relies heavily on repeated jokes and celebrity cameos, while its new comedy gimmicks are a mixed bag. Goldmember still earns plenty of laughs, both with its callbacks and its new material, but its jokes aren’t as fresh or unexpected as they could be. In spite of an enjoyable story and quite a bit of creativity on display, Goldmember feels like it’s playing things a little too safe.
Austin Powers in Goldmember is an entertaining comedy and a worth sendoff for the series. Although it is a slight step down from its predecessors in terms of energy and originality, its fun sense of humor and talented cast hold the same appeal as ever. Fans of the other Austin Powers movies should give Goldmember a shot. Viewers who dislike crass humor will want to give it a pass.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid craftsmanship and reliable comedy.