Load of bo*?&cks or yet another genius production? You decide... (Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD))

Member Name: jesika_jay

Product:	Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD)
Date:	10/08/02 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: funny

Disadvantages: unoriginal

I saw this film just a few days ago so I thought it wise to review it while it is still (relatively) fresh in my mind.

Right, I will try to give you a nice and neat summary without giving the story away...

Synopsis:
Austin goes back in time to the 1970's to rescue his father who has been kidnapped by Dr. Evil. He meets Foxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles) in the disco and she leads him to his father who is being kept my the Goldmember. She then turns against Gold Member and they fight to get Austin's father released. Meanwhile there are some surprises that will happen concerning Dr. Evil, Mini Me, Austin and Evil's son... you'll have to watch it to find out what.

This third Austin Powers film is just as funny as the previous two, it has to be said. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it just as much as I enjoyed the first two. But there is a but. This film just did not seem to be of the same quality as the first two; whilst they were original and funny, this was stale and funny. The jokes in the first two were so good that they have used them all again. Yes, it's funny, but we've seen it all before! It's only because the jokes were so funny to begin with and they will take long to tire that this film is such a success.

Another con about this film is that it does not have much of a plot. Ok, so the first two had pretty ridiculous storylines, but they were still storylines! And they were supposed to be ridiculous! This one, however, doesn't have an interesting enough plot and I found that the title character of the film- The Gold Member- was completely pointless and not funny. He almost seemed insignificant and just stuck in the film for the hell of it to try to create a different end to the story (I won't tell you what happens at the end) for those who already know, I think the end spoils all of the Austin Powers films in that it takes it away from the original idea (which was so funny) of the whole Dr
. Evil vs Austin Powers scenario.

It has to be said that all cast members acted well. As usual, Mike Myers is terrific in his multiple roles, having the audience in stitches once again with his antics and some of the sticky situations he gets himself into! Beyonce was surprisingly good as well, although I am not a huge fan of Destiny's Child and feel that she was only put in this film for show; they wanted to attract viewers because of the glamorous cast rather than the quality of the film. I think that Heather Graham and Liz Hurley still did a better job as supporting actresses in the first two, though.

So, could there be another sequel? I get the feeling from this one that the whole story seems to have come to a complete end, judging by the ending. I can't imagine how the writers will pick the story up for a forth film, but who knows, it could happen...

Summary: