AUSTIN POWERS: SPY WHO SHAGGED ME
SYNOPSIS:
It’s 1999 and Austin Powers (Mike Myers) is relaxing on the Riviera, when he learns
that his arch enemy, Dr Evil (Mike Myers) has re-emerged and from his penthouse
headquarters at the Seattle Space Needle is time travelling to 1969 to steal Austin’s
mojo, his life force, really, so he (Dr Evil) can carry on destroying the world without
interruptions from Austin. The loss of his mojo deprives Austin of his shagging ability,
spurring him on to devise his own time travel gizmo to follow Dr Evil back to the 60s. He
teams up with the leggy Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham) from the CIA to pursue Dr Evil
and his band of baddies and save the world – as well as get his mojo back.
"They say that many brilliant people love vulgar comedy, and while I can’t
give you a list of these people, ‘they’ are probably right, because, for
instance, the celebrated British actress, Dame Judi Dench once told me during an interview
that she shared Billy Connolly’s very blue sense of humour. Well, come on down, Judi,
this one’s for you. Benny Hill would have been proud to have created the Austin
Powers franchise, and Mike Myers openly admits to being a Benny Hill fan way from back
when. The vulgar jokes and dirty old man surrounded by semi naked beauties worked for
Benny – and millions of fans – because it let everybody in on the coarsest jokes
this side of pornorgraphy. Earthy and basic. The Spy Who Shagged Me takes the first Austin
Powers film and simply regurgitates the structure (which is in any case an old formula for
classic hero-saves-world-after entering-belly-of-beast spy movies, originating in classic
literature – in case this is of interest to you) while upping the joke count and
expanding on some of the funnier running gags. These stretch from the squirm-enducing
jargon (the ‘Behave!’ And ‘Do I make you horny, baby?’ kind) to the
double entendres, both verbal and visual. Watch for the tent scene, in which Felicity
extracts items from a hidden trunk but from outside it looks as though she’s removing
umbrellas and other items from Austin’s backside. The film achieves exactly what the
filmmakers set out to, and will entertain its target market. Groovy, baby."
Andrew L. Urban
"Bright, colourful, rude and crude, Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me takes
Mike Myers' concept one step further, delivering a sequel that is not only 'groovier babee',
but smarter, slicker and funnier than the original. The formula is just the same –
lots of smutty jokes, puns, buxom babes and titillating fun. The running jokes run further
and wilder, and are embellished by cameo appearances by some of Hollywood's biggest stars.
In fact, the clever casting and surprise appearances are delectable high points, that not
only get a laugh, but add a solid base to the entire project. Unashamedly derivative, for
all its vulgarity and in-your-face toilet humour, the script is very clever and comprises
some sophisticated ideas. The shuffle back and forth in time is effectively and
imaginatively executed – if you can't take the 90s into the 60s, then bring the 60s
into the 90s. The psychedelic street scene when Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello perform
'What Do You Get When You Fall In Love' is time warp magic. In fact, it is easy to suspend
disbelief for the entire 95 minute running time; this is a blast of a trip, and you'll be
smiling all the way. Mike Myers has refined and modified his duel roles, moulding them
irresistibly into charismatic and repulsive hero/villain characters. Heather Graham makes
a delectable Felicity Shagwell, while the casting of Rob Lowe as a young Robert Wagner
character is inspired. The concepts leave plenty of room for wonderful costumes and great
production design as we weave in and out of various time zones. Larger than life
slapstick, satire and farce all rolled up in a winning combination, The Spy Who Shagged Me
is outrageous fun that will zap hearty laughs all round this winter."
Louise Keller
 
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CRITICAL COUNT
Favourable: 2
Unfavourable: 0
Mixed: 0


See our DVD REVIEWS
See Andrew L. Urban's interview in Cannes with MIKE MYERS and HEATHER GRAHAM
TRAILER
AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (M)
(US)
CAST: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Kristen Johnston, Gia
Carides and Elizabeth Hurley
DIRECTOR: M. Jay Roach
PRODUCERS: John Lyons, Mike Myers, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
SCRIPT: Michael McCullers, Mike Myers
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ueli Steiger
EDITOR: John Poll
MUSIC: George S. Clinton
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Rusty Smith
RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: June 17, 1999
VIDEO RELEASE: December 21, 1999
VIDEO DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow Home Entertainment
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