Originally written by Chris Nettleton · 25 July 2002
Jay Roach
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Label: Release Date: 25/07/2002
This latest instalment of the Austin Powers series comes across as somewhere between 'The Naked Gun', 'Blazing Saddles' and Benny Hill. There is much cacophonous laughstrionics to be had if* you're the kind of person who splits their sides uncontrollably at the Derek and Clive _'Nurse! Nurse!'_ sketch. I have to admit that I _do_ and _did_, but this film very definitely errs on the side of silliness and stupidity. The best parts were the ones where writer/leading man *Mike Myers ripped the piss out of other films, and a brilliant rap pastiche... the worst bits were when some characters over enthusiastically sent themselves up. Michael Caine was especially guilty of playing a dodgy self-parody of Harry Palmer, and Beyoncé was great when she was singing, but didn't really cut much mustard as an actress.
I * hated* the blatant product placements, especially ironic since Myers parodied this very phenomenon in 'Wayne's World', and even when I laughed, I was often simultaneously annoyed at the over-zany character that delivered the joke... but I did laugh...
...a * lot*.
..and for that it gets the four stars.
Oh... and see if you can spot the cameo by foxy former Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs!
• 8 Chris Nettleton's Score