 Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) Austin Powers movies are pretty much like high school improv troupes, but on a much larger scale. In both cases, they are desperate for your love. It's a little sad to see Mike Myers hamming it up so exuberantly, 'cause you can literally see the need in his eyes. "LOVE ME!" It comes out in the writing, too. One thing people never talk about is that the plots of these films frequently cover the terrain of "issues" – you can tell Mike Myers is in therapy, because he's putting across a healing message in between all the scatology. Get the love you need, he says. Come to terms with your parental abandonment. Heal your pain. Repair yourself, and repair the world. So, although the movies aren't very good, I am switching sides and joining the pro-Austin camp simply because I've come to think that they are good for the world. Sure, I object to the gratuitous pop-culture references. Sure, I think Mini-Me is stupid. Sure, I think it's pointless to be sending up Roger Moore-era James Bond in the 2000s. Sure, I know instantly when a character named Roboto is introduced, that a few minutes later Austin is going to say "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto." Sure, that makes me roll my eyes. But being angry at it would be like being angry at lip balm. If it heals, then it has value. And actually, Goldmember is the funniest of the bunch. I laughed several times, particularly at some crafty piss jokes and a clever bit about cinematic subtitling. And there are some excellent, almost stunning celebrity cameos in this one. And Michael Caine is terrific. And Beyoncé Knowles has moxie. What's to hate about this, unless you hate yourself?
Review by Brad Boiner |