JUST GROOVY BABY. (Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD))

Member Name: PRINCESSPUSSYCAT

Product:	Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD)
Date:	07/07/08 (235 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, quirky humour and a lot of action.

Disadvantages: A little rude.

--GOLDMEMBER--

Goldmember was released in 2002. Starring Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Michael York, Verne Troyer, Michael Caine and Fred Savage. Directed by Jay Roach and co written by co-written by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers - Guest Performances: Steven Spielberg, Britney Spears, Quincy Jones, Katie Couric, Nathan Lane and The Osbournes.

Running Time: 94 Minutes - Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy/ - BBFC Rating: 12 -


The film 'Goldmember' opens to Austin Powers, (Michael Myers ) zooming along in his colourful Union Jack 'Shaguar', followed by a 60's psychedelic dance sequence. This sets the tone of the third film from the fabulous stable of mock spy films which parody James Bond and other similar films in the 'Spy'genre. Austin 'Danger' Powers is a trendy spy from the 60s with a penchant for the ladies and he reels them in with lines such as 'You've got my mojo working' and 'Groovy baby' whilst having a real satirical swipe at the 'swinging 60's'. Austin 'Danger' Powers is a trendy and colourful 'International Man of Mystery' from London, who travels around in time in his mission to overcome evil.


Well as usual with these films of Austin Powers it isn't really about the plot, so expect little serious content here. This is a self parody, and a film within a film. The basic premise is that Doctor Evil, arch enemy to Austin Powers wants to destroy the world with his newly created weapon 'Preparation H' which he wants to send to Earth as a meteor to cause massive destruction and flooding. Aided by his henchman 'Fat Ba*tard' who is a massive wrestler who eats his own skin. In the meantime Dr Evil has also kidnapped Austin Powers father (Michael Caine) who Austin is desperately seeking out as he feels his father neglected him as a child and he needs to have the chance to build bridges. Then you have the baddie, 'Goldmember, whose private parts became solid gold due to a freak 'smelting accident'. It is decided that Austin will travel forward in time to 1975 to find his father and also, Goldmember and to stop the onslaught of 'Preparation H'!


I love the Austin Powers films and find them to be very funny indeed. They are extremely slick in their production and the adherence to the 60's period in costume and dance is spot on. This isn't a film to be over analysed but just to be enjoyed for what it is and hugely enjoyable it is too. Goldmember is a film within a film, so you have a pretty impressive cast list, not only of the main actors but also the cast which play these 'Cameo' characters within the film being shot. For example in the film of Austin Powers, 'AustinPussy', being another Bond reference, you have Danny Divito playing 'Mini Me' and Tom Cruise playing Austin Powers, though you don't actually get to see too many scenes shown with them in unfortunately.


The costumes are fabulous and loud with the disco, funk feel of the 1960's, and the various dances from the period are on display here giving the film an authentic feel. You have Beyonce Knowles playing 'Foxy Cleopatra' wearing a gold lame costume, with obvious reference to the James Bond film 'Goldfinger', who actually isn't too bad in her role. Also an unrecognisable Gwyneth Paltro, playing a sexy, swinging 60's babe which somehow didn't look quite right to me. Then there is Britney Spears wearing a leather shooting bra aimed straight at Austin. They engage in a shoot-off, Britney turns into a Fembot and Austin then enters into a hilarious display of dance,fight and song, whilst saying "Oops I did it again" and 'Groovy baby', 'I found my mojo', which Austin then uses to blow Britney to smithereens. -


Goldmember is a whole lot of fun and there are some great stand alone scenes to come out of it. The scene when Mini Me is eating chocolate at the board meeting is quality, as is, the scene in the prison when Dr Evil and Mini Me sing 'It's a hard knock life', done in a mixture between the original 'Annie 'the musical feel and pure rap as in the mix. The humour is clever and acted out brilliantly. Michael Myers is pure comedy genius and has come a long way from his 'Wayne's World' days. The first Austin Powers film 'International Man of Mystery' came out in 1997 and it wasn't a huge mainstream hit, though it did garner cult status and the subsequent follow on films have steadily gained the reputation that they deserve as excellent comedy parodies. 'The Spy Who Sh*gged Me', his second film was always going to be a problem in the United States, with a title like that, and it was simply billed as 'Austin Powers 2'.


Mike Myers is totally brilliant in Goldmember and he plays the parts of: Austin Powers, Dr Evil, Goldmember, and Fat B*stard. His characterisations are excellent and I never tire of watching him. He has a really cheeky, boyish quality to his acting which brings his films to life. There is real positive energy within the Austin Powers films. They are a little rude but never really offensive. I suppose that's why this one bears the 12 rating making it suitable as older 'Family viewing'. Verne Troyer is once again fantastic as 'Mini Me' and the sight of him in a baby carrier worn by Dr Evil was hilarious.


I think the Austin Powers films are extremely clever, tongue in cheek swipes at the huge spy films of the day and his treatment of gentle parody works extremely well both with the genre and the 60's era and everything else that he is sending up here. Goldmember is a tremendously well acted film by all concerned and Mike Myers wonderfully wicked sense of humour and quirky sense of fun gives the film a very watchable quality throughout. Amazing there have only been three films made in the series and I think we are well overdue for 'Austin Powers 4' some time very soon I hope. Or could this possibly be the last?. Now that would be a shame.-


'Michael Myers is an Emmy Award-winning British Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter and film producer. He was a long-time cast member on the NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live in the late 1980s and the early 1990s and starred as the title characters in the film series Wayne's World, Austin Powers and Shrek'.


Thank you for reading
PRINCESSPUSSYCAT
July 2008*

Summary: Brilliant, fun film.