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BY LINCOLN GASKING | The
third Austin Powers, "Goldmember", is a mixed bag, baby. The
many moments of side-splitting hilarity costs dearly in time and coherence
of the promising storyline which never fully developed its awesome potential.
At the Premiere this week, Mike Myers said that no sequels were ever planned
for Austin Powers, and it sure looks like it this time.
The new film introduces three new major characters into the Austin Powers
universe: Austin's famous father, masterspy Nigel Powers (played by Michael
Caine); his new partner, Foxxy Cleopatra (Destiny Child's Beyonce Knowles);
and Goldmember (Mike Myers), the scheming evil mastermind sporting a permanently-erect
shining metallic appendage. Oh, and he's Dutch.
With Dr. Evil incarcerated in a high-security Hannibal Lecter-style prison,
this time it's up to Goldmember to wreak havoc on the world. To stop Goldmember,
Austin must chase him back in time to the seventies, where he has taken
Austin's kidnapped father, Nigel Powers.
"We thought it would be cool if Austin were in the legacy phase
of his career", Myers says. "He's at his pinnacle, knighted
by the Queen and still his father gives him no respect. The reason Austin
became a spy is because Nigel was Britain's most decorated and celebrated
spy. Austin spent his whole life trying to get his father's approval...He's
always trying to get his father's attention."
On paper, it's a great setup. It allows Austin to get a blaxpoitation-style
gal as a partner, introduces a new evil mastermind, and sets in motion
a new exploration of the continuing theme in the "Austin Powers"
franchise of father-son relationships. Unfortunately, the new characters
fail to live up to expectations.
The reason for the Austin Powers franchise was due to the amazing success
of the original film on video and DVD. If you were to remember the first
film, the swinging Austin Powers arrives via cryogenic freezing to the
90s where he must save the world from Dr. Evil and come to terms with
three decades of women's lib through his female companion, Vanessa Kensington
(Elizabeth Hurley). What perhaps made the film so loved, apart from the
now classic and oft-quoted set pieces and jokes (It's not mine... really!),
was the film's heart. You cared for the characters, and what happened
to them. It was hugely satisfying to follow each of their stories.
The second film, "The Spy Who Shagged Me", focused more on
the deliciously-bungling Dr Evil and his evil family, introducing the
unforgettable Mini-Me clone (Verne Troyer); Myers' new character, Fat
Bastard; and Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham). The story largely played
second fiddle to the improvisation of Myers, especially with Dr Evil and
Mini-Me.
The third film continues in the same vein of improvisation and comedic
chaos, as Jay Roach labelled it. But while the chaos is funny, it can
leave you with a very confusing, and ultimately lacking, film experience
due to the lack of time spent on character development and story. Whereas
the set pieces propelled the story in the original film, in "Goldmember"
-- though hilarious -- a lot seem out of place.
One recurring sight gag was given new life when Mini Me and Austin Powers
get together for yet another series of shadow jokes. The piece, which
included Mini Me dropping out of Austin Powers' behind, attached to what
appears to be an umbilical cord, had the audience in stitches.
Mini Me once again steals the film: as the disgruntled defector from
Dr Evil's team, he joins the Secret Service and becomes a double agent.
"Verne has developed quite a following," says Jay Roach. "He
turns every little minute, every reaction shot into an extravaganza of
attitude which speaks volumes about the family dynamic going on. He has
such life on screen, it transcends the amount of actual screen time he
has."
As the third Austin girl, Beyonce Knowles could have been fantastic.
Only, she's not given anything much memorable to do. After her meeting
with Austin in Goldmember's swinging seventies Disco club, she's essentially
cut out of the film. It's a pity, because the time she does have is enjoyable.
Suffering a similar fate is the film's titular character. For a new
evil mastermind, his role is surprisingly small -- most of his scenes
are also sliced down to the bare essentials. He's also not that funny.
His role is cut down so much it seems the major comedic reason for being
in the film is so the cast can make fun of the Dutch.
Outtakes are also very disappointing. The answer is obvious: they're
all in the film. Because of this, the filmmakers are left with -- get
this -- running another version of the opening scene again! It's not that
it isn't funny -- "Goldmember" is worth watching just for the
opening scene alone: it's possibly one of the funniest openings I've ever
seen. It is a tribute to just how well-loved the Austin Powers series
is that every A-list celebrity Myers wrote into his wishlist of cameos
turned up for its filming.
The continuing father-son theme in the trilogy offers the chance to go
back to espionage school where the teenage Austin Powers (Aaron Himelstein)
and Dr Evil (Josh Zuckerman) roomed together. The kids playing the younger
characters (including a young Number Two and Basil Exposition) are all
fantastic and it's a pity there's not more of them. "The kids knocked
it out of the park. It was a bit spooky," recalls Myers.
Because there are so many good moments, it's hard to grade the film
poorly. Could a film that makes you laugh as hard as "Goldmember"
not deserve a perfect score? If you're the type of young hipster who prefers
their comedy as pure, chaotic, hit-and-miss improvisation (and to hell
with the story) this one's for you, baby.
I just wanted more character exploration. There was such amazing potential
in the setup, it's a shame it largely disappeared in the hilarity.
GRADE: B+ |
