Movie: Austin Powers In Goldmember
Rating: PG-13
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Carol's grade: C-
CAROL's Take:
In the press kit for "Austin Powers In Goldmember," Mike Myers is quoted as saying, "Broad comedy is as legitimate and valid a delivery system for expansive, spiritual ideas as any other art form." Well. He's right, of course. But, don't look for "expansive, spiritual ideas" in this infantile third installment of the successful movie franchise.
The first "Austin Powers" movie, "International Man Of Mystery" (1997), was made for $17 million, and grossed over $58 million domestically. Its brand-name has become so powerful that it's safe to guess that "Goldmember"
will gross more than that in its opening weekend.
This guaranteed blockbuster features the talents of Mike Myers as creator, co-writer, co-producer, and starring as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and Goldmember. That list demonstrates why the movie can only flirt with the talents of Verne J. Troyer (as Mini Me), BeyoncÈ Knowles (as Foxxy Cleopatra), Michael Caine (as Austin's pop, Nigel), and completely squanders the rest of the cast.
"Goldmember" does treat audiences to a meaningless, but delightful host of cameo appearances sprinkled into the action. The opening sequence, in particular, is a laugh riot, littered with stunt casting and industry jokes that
make the audience feel like Hollywood insiders themselves.
That said, the humor at the core of "Goldmember" is too juvenile to be called sophomoric. Long gone are the wry cultural observations made in earlier Powers movies that spoofed the '70s, and lampooned old James Bond movies.
The thrust of the jokesä uh, the butt of the jokesä mmm, the focus of all of the humor in this piece of entertainment is of the "boy" variety, homing in on various parts of the male anatomy below the waist. One can't help but wonder how this crude exposition managed a PG-13 rating.
"Austin Powers In Goldmember" is well-produced, and, within its own tiny genre, quite clever, too. It is going to be a huge hit - with its teen target audience, of course, but also with an older group that can brush off the shame of
very cheap laughs, and find some pleasure there.