Sweaty sumo pants turn me off (Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD))

Member Name: mpafp

Product:	Austin Powers in Goldmember (DVD)
Date:	26/08/02 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mickey C, Sexy vehicles, Austin is groovy

Disadvantages: Fat bastard, Jokes should be funny, bollocks within

OK, quite clearly we must start by keeping a thought in our minds. Austin Powers is most certainly a groovy kinda guy. A role model. A leader. A king amongst men. But, the third film in what I hope will be a continuing series was not quite tender enough to be called a gourmet chicken. If you know what I mean. (You don't, but humour me).

Certainly much of it was amusing and satisfyingly crude, but I am left with an empty feeling by the following three things:

1. Fat Bastard
2. Dr Evil conference scenes
3. All that crazy bollocks of the film within a film.


1. Fat Bastard
----------------

He is not funny. His revolting appearance may induce a few giggles for his first few minutes of screentime in AP2:TSWSM, but by now I'd quite like him to die. Horribly. Even his name is dull: a hollow meaningless tag dreamt up by somebody inebriated with quaint English colloquilisms. Innit?


2. Dr Evil conference scenes
-----------------------------

Most of the running gags in the evil conference scenes weren't funny the first time (zippit etc.), and guess what, after two more outings...they still aren't funny.


3. All that crazy bollocks of the film within a film
----------------------------------------------

Yes I realise it is MEANT to be a corny device for getting big celebrities in for cameos, and that this is part of the 'joke', but it leaves the film with a weak plot, and the ending in particular feels like a huge cop-out. It is the old Python technique of not being bothered to think of a cracking ending so instead cutting to the colonel behind a desk who will announce it is time 'for something completely different'.


In spite of these factors, I did rather enjoy the film thanks to the sustained periods of pure comedy which managed to survive. Of particular note were the Austin-and-Nigel-Powers-cockney-rhyming-slan
g scene, the Scott-and-Dr-Evil-reconciliation-with-the-help-of- lazer-fitted-sharks scene and Nigel Powers' entrance into the Dr Evil lair. In fact, Caine was fantastic wherever he appeared.

Also the jumbo jet and the Union Flag mini were very sexy. I'd rather like them myself. My birthday is the 2nd November. You have time to save up.

Summary: