Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Directed by Jay Roach. Starring Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Michael York, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner, Kristen Johnson, Gia Carides, Elizabeth Hurley. [PG-13]

Swinging sequel finds the groovy secret agent going back in time to 1969 after his bald-pated adversary uses a time machine to steal his “mojo.” The premise is irretrievably silly, but whatever it takes to get Austin back to his own free-love era for more shenanigans, including hooking up with an aptly-named CIA agent, Felicity Shagwell (Graham)—good on her feet, even better off. The comedic formula barely even gets tweaked, several gags are recycled, and the new stuff tends to be spotty—Troyer is usually amusing as a pint-sized clone of Dr. Evil called “Mini-Me,” but Myers’ newest persona (the also aptly-named Fat Bastard) is only sustainable in small doses, even if he did once eat a baby, the “other, other white meat.” Fans of the original are likely to have a good enough time, but that first film had the kind of inspiration that encouraged grass-roots enthusiasm (it was mostly discovered on home video after an only modestly successful theatrical run); this one is designed as a disposably reassuring crowd-pleaser and takes fewer chances—as a result, this sequel’s opening weekend grosses exceeded its predecessor’s entire domestic run! Lowe does a surprisingly good pantomime playing a younger version of Wagner’s character. Lots of cameos, as one would expect. Followed by Austin Powers in Goldmember.

63/100