Austin Powers 2 (1999)
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Some sequel manage to improve on their original movies, or go off in interesting new directions, while others are merely content to be a bit like the original. There’s not doubt which category 1999's second entry in the Austin Powers franchise belongs to - it’s virtually a carbon copy of the 1997 reasonably amusing comedy that was the first film in the series.
Evil genius Dr. Evil has returned after being defeated in the first movie and he builds a time machine to go in back in time and steal his nemesis Austin Powers’ “Mojo” so that Powers won’t be able to combat him. He then concocts an evil plan to build a giant “laser” on the Moon and use it to blackmail the world's governments, which Powers obviously has to stop.
At one point in the film, Austin (Mike Myers) and his boss Basil Exposition (Michael York) advise the audience not to worry too much about the plot and this is sound advice. Suffice to say Powers is joined this time by CIA agent Heather Graham whereas Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) has new sidekicks in the form of diminutive clone Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) and an absurdly fat Scotsman (Mike Myers).
Like the original there are a number of amusing jokes and also a large number of jokes that just aren’t funny at all. This isn’t helped by the fact that a significant number of the jokes are very similar to those in the first movie and they aren’t really any funnier here.
Like in the original Austin Powers himself is still rather irritating while Dr Evil and his henchmen get all the best lines, particularly Evil’s interactions with his son Scott Evil (Seth Green). Fortunately, Dr Evil gets more screen time in this film than in the original, with the effect that this film is probably slightly funnier than the original.
In summary this is, like the first film, a reasonably amusing spy spoof but the franchise is likely to run out of steam if it doesn’t come up with some new jokes soon.
Rating : 7 / 10
DVD Review (Region 2)
The Region 2 disk has good picture quality and sound, as you'd expect from such a recent release. The special features are pretty decent - a fairly large number of deleted scenes (some as amusing as those in the film itself) as well as music videos and trailers. The biggest problem is the annoying menus which feature Mike Myers regurgitating some of his more vapid catchphrases.
DVD Rating : 7 / 10
All content ©2003 William Marnoch.
Comments? Agree/Disagree with the Reviews? Suggestions? Random Ramblings? Whatever you might want to say, feel free to e-mail me at william@wmarnoch.freeserve.co.uk .