“Yeah, baby!” —Austin Powers
Today’s quick review: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. When Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) use a time machine to steal Austin Powers’ (Mike Myers) mojo, Austin follows him back to 1969 to take it back. There, he meets his perfect match: Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham), a CIA agent who’s just as groovy as he is. But to foil Dr. Evil’s plan, Austin and Felicity must first defeat his new minions Fat Bastard (Mike Myers) and Mini-Me (Verne J. Troyer).
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is a spy comedy that picks up where the first Austin Powers movie left off. The sequel features the same style of outrageous humor as the first: wild characters, raunchy jokes, shots at the spy genre, and cultural references galore. The Spy Who Shagged Me scores a solid hit with its comedy, thanks to a talented cast and some well-chosen running gags. However, it lacks the consistency of its predecessor.
The Spy Who Shagged Me has a harder time balancing its story and its comedy. The plot is as light and enjoyable as the previous film, but it takes a couple of clumsy twists at the beginning to set everything in motion. The film has a knack for ridiculous humor that’s hard to resist, but its reliance on crude humor will be too much for some viewers. The Spy Who Shagged Me has flashes of brilliance, but it’s still a step down from the original.
Give Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me a shot when you’re in the mood for lowbrow humor that packs a comedic punch. Memorable characters, quotable dialogue, and a handful of excellent gags make the movie worth a watch in spite of its weaknesses. But those who disliked the cruder aspects of the first film may want to steer clear.
For more in the same vein, try Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery or Austin Powers in Goldmember. For an even raunchier comedy with some of the same appeal, try Team America: World Police. For a ridiculous comedy that doubles down on sight gags and parody, try Airplane! or Top Secret!.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for strong humor with a few rough spots.