Film Reviews

Austin Powers in Goldmember

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Beyonce Knowles
• Details: US / 90 mins / (15PG).

Set three years after the antics of The Spy Who Shagged Me, Goldmember sees the international man of mystery, Austin Powers (Mike Myers) making a new enemy in the form of Dutch criminal mastermind, Goldmember (also played by Myers). To make matters worse, Dr Evil (Myers again) and his protandeacute;gandeacute; Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) have escaped from a maximum security holding prison and resumed their plans for world domination. Happening across a means of removing Austin from the equation, they construct a time travel machine, and kidnap Powers' father, Nigel (a memorable performance from Michael Caine). Of course, it's up to the Shagadelic one to cross the boundaries of time, with old flame, Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles) in tow, and save the day. If you're a big fan of the previous two installments of the Austin Powers franchise, chances are, you'll find much to enjoy in Goldmember. However, if you felt that Austin Powers is one a trick pony, a gag in desperate need of a fresh punchline, then there's not a helluva lot to recommend Goldmember. That said, the opening sequences is inspired - Tom Cruise, Danny DeVito, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey all feature in a Mission Impossible pastiche - but there are better ways to spend your time. Oh, and your money.

Review by Garreth Murphy