Austin Powers 3: Goldmember : Movie Review


He's back to save the world for a third time, but does he still have his Mojo?

Well he certainly has plenty of it in Goldmember. From the beginning, the bond spoofs are there as we are treated to a ridiculous stunt involving Austin leaping over a helicopter, blowing it up and landing on his feet. This isn't the Austin that we are expecting however, it's Tom Cruise acting out Austins life in 'Austinpussy', a film being made about him. Other big celebs are there, showing just how popular the 'Powers following has become, even Britney Spears is there…until Austin accidentally blows her head up.

Luckily the film doesn't have a great start to which the rest of the film can't live up to, okay some of the joke are very similar, like Mini-Me humping everything in sight and the hopelessness of Dr. Evil's world domination demonstrations, but although the formula is very similar, the jokes themselves are new and some of them very funny indeed. The less impressive ones are gone by the time the next ones come along so it doesn't matter anyway.

A few new characters are introduced and fit in well; Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyoncé Knowles), Nigel Powers (Michael Caine) and of course Goldmember, the new evil villain working with Dr. Evil. It's hard to take seriously a Dutch villain dressed in a gold tracksuit offering his arch enemy pancakes, 'isn't that vierd'? Another new face is familiar from the TV series 'The Wonder Years', Kevin (Fred Savage) is Number Three known as the mole, for obvious reasons.

Old characters are back like Fat Bastard, Number Two (Robert Wagner), Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling) and Scott Evil (Seth Green), these have lost none of their characteristics that made them funny the first time round. Hilarious scenes from start to finish make it hard to choose the best one, but when Austin and Mini-Me (in a cunning disguise) go for an examination must be one of the best parts of the film.

Now that everybody knows what it's all about and the brand of humour to expect, it's probably only going to be fans going to see this latest installment, and if you didn't like it before you won't now either. If you're like the millions of people that liked it before however you are sure to find Goldmember just as good, if not better.

With thanks to the Warner Village Cinema at
Clifton Moor Centre, York.

Author : John Harbisher Of Cinema.com