After the tumultous previous adventures, spy Austin Powers is shocked when it turns out that Vanessa is actually an android who blows up in order to kill him. Austin is then given a new assignment from his boss Basil: to use a time machine, go back in time, to the 60s, and stop Dr. Evil who threatens to destroy the White House with a laser unless he is paid a huge ransom. Complicating matters is Dr. Evil's henchmen, Fat Bastard, who stole Austin's mojo from the cryo chamber. Teaming up with Felicity, Austin goes to the the Moon base, stops Dr. Evil, returns to the 90s and regains his mojo.
Compared to the fun 1st film, "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" is the 'Mini-Me' of "Austin Powers". While in the original film every vulgar, questionable joke was at least compensated by two good gags, in this sequel, the 2:1 ratio is reversed in favor of the vulgarity. Part II borrows too many plot points from the original, but just done worse: Dr. Evil's new henchmen is introduced, Mini-Me (even though he doesn't do practically anything purposeful in the story, anyway); there are puns on the differences between the 60s and 90s (which is pointless this time, since people in the 60s cannot fathom Dr. Evil's references from the 90s); Will Ferrell again returns with the same joke of being wounded, but still alive; Mike Myers plays another character in the story (Fat Bastard)... Looking from today's perspective, after all the hype is gone, it is obvious that little of this has any satisfactory power since it lacks inspiration. A rehash of old jokes simply isn't that effective. Surprisingly, Myers plays three characters, yet their comic output is weak: Fat Bastard is a rare example of a comedian dressing up into someone and failing to deliver a single good joke throughout. He has 0% successful jokes. Next, Austin Powers himself only has some 10% of successful jokes. Which again leaves only Dr. Evil to carry the comedy, though even his performance is a "hit-or-miss" affair. Some jokes are amusing, such as the Jerry Springer show featuring Dr. Evil, yet others are a disappointment. Simply put, jokes about someone mistaking shit for coffee and drinking it; farting; sexual innuendo or kicking in the crotch can be done by anyone, but a good comedy can only be done by the few talented ones. Heather Graham is the only highlight here, since her character Felicity is much more genuine than Vanessa from the 1st film, even though she is given little to do.
Grade:+
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