Wolff rating: NOT BAD
Plot summary: Really an extension of the last movie, Meyers plays three different roles as his wacked-out 60s-era superspy takes on the Dr. Evil character again, this time with time machines.
Biased, pithy comments: Meyers' first Austin Powers movie was an oddball hit---his ludicrous fish-out-of-water jokes combined with some SNL-like situation comedy and, of course, carefully-crafted scenes of blocked nudity made for a cracklingly funny film. This time around, the 90s go back to the 60s, and it isn't quite as funny. Oh, sure, there are definitely moments where I couldn't stop laughing, and I suppose that means I should recommend this film, but I'm going to be a snobby reviewer here and complain that this movie was somewhat soulless---the product placements hit early and often, there were clearly moments where Meyers had shot off script and was just stylin' in his own ego and ignoring poor Graham, and places where they just did something random on screen and hoped we'd laugh at it. And we didn't always. However, I'm not giving credit for some really great gags, including an extended sequence of quick cuts around words for male genetalia, a hilarious send-up of Jerry Springer, and some solid one-liners. A jumbled movie with some good laughs, but certainly not a well-crafted endeavor.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Mike Meyers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Verne Troyer, Kristen Johnston.
Directed by: M. Jay Roach