Jay Roach and Mike Myers were a duo that simply could not be stopped back in the late 90s. Not only did the first Austin Powers film take the box office by storm, but it was also such a phenomenally written parody film that it set a higher standard for the entire genre. Together, they were looking to do the same once again, create a parody film that was elevated above the rest of the trash that seemingly poured out in the late 90s era. Though they never reached the heights of International Man of Mystery, this sequel is still a top-class comedy that will entertain you!
How to Download Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. Check out also the third film in the series – Austin Powers in Goldmember
The Movie Review
Basil Exposition sends Austin Powers back in time to 1969 in order to stop Dr. Evil’s nefarious new plot. Dr. Evil has stolen Austin Powers’ mojo and is attempting to use it so he can construct a massive laser to destroy all of the world’s main cities if he doesn’t get the ransom he’s demanding. Austin Powers meets Felicity Shagwell in the 1960s; Felicity is equally as hot and cool as Austin (as surprising as that might sound).
Even though Dr. Evil is now focused on his 1/10-sized clone, Mini-Me, Scott Evil is still seeking to resolve issues with his father. Along with Fat Bastard, the repulsive, obese Scottish henchman, Dr. Evil is assisted by Number Two, Frau Farbissina, and Mustafa who are all back to aid him.
The first Austin Powers film is in my opinion the greatest of the lot. Although The Spy Who Shagged Me comes close, I can’t say that it’s better than the first one in any way. We get to see some previous characters in fresh and exciting ways, and a few new characters have been added to the cast. The best addition to the cast of characters is Verne Troyer’s outstanding performance as Mini-Me, Doctor Evil’s little-person clone. In addition to being hysterically humorous, he also reveals a new aspect of Doctor Evil, which I found to be quite entertaining, and brought more depth to Dr. Evil in general.
These characters were well-established in the first Austin Powers movie, but this one really brought them to life. Dr. Evil is unquestionably the best character here, he steals the show in every single scene he’s a part of. Basil, Number Two, and Austin Powers resemble one other somewhat in the first film. Felicity is such a great addition to this cast of characters, played wonderfully by Heather Graham. Frau is also considerably more fascinating, as is Scott who’s still asking his father why he doesn’t just kill his enemies.
The film has the same lack of visual identity that the original film faced though, which really pulls down the quality here. Of course, there’s also the issue of weaker production design here too, for some reason, the bigger budget brought much less creativity to the studios when they made the environments and the sets. However, the final parts of this film are truly phenomenal looking even despite this, the music is so much better as the 60s were just such a groovy era!
The crass humor goes a bit too overboard at times though, which is something you wouldn’t have expected if you had seen the first one. Not only does this film have some of the grossest jokes, most of which are involving the character of Fat Bastard, but it also goes a bit too overboard on the sexual innuendos despite being a PG-13 film for some reason. The only thing that’s missing from this film is the F-Bombs because it doesn’t hold back on anything. Please do make sure your children aren’t watching this film by any means if they’re under 15-16.
The Verdict
Once again, the plot is ridiculous, but that was always the intention. Even though the plot is weaker and Powers and Shagwell aren’t given as much screen time, it’s still a ton of fun because Dr. Evil is the main focus. This sequel was entertaining, clever, frequently repulsive, and quite “shagadelic.” Although it occasionally leans a little too heavily on vulgarity, that movie is just as foolish and as sophisticated as the first one.
