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