oakraider1's Full Review: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
Sequels themselves are not rarities, they occur ever so often, trying to best the image that was set forth in the first. Most fail miserably, others fail miserably, then go for the third or fourth in a series. Then comes the select few that stand out from the crowd, bettering their predecessor and giving hope for another future sequel. One rare instance of this in my opinion is Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me. While I love the first one, the second seems to have a fresh brand of humor and kept me laughing for the majority of the flick.
When looking at what makes Austin Powers 2 better than the first edition one must compare the different qualities of the two. Personally the three biggest factors for me are the cast, the plot, and the music.
The Cast
The first cast was good in its own right, but the second cast seemed more original and fresh. The biggest difference is, of course Heather Graham. And the other major addition is none other than Mini-Me.
Mike Myers 1 vs. Mike Myers 2
The debut of Myers in the original Austin Powers was a great breakthrough performance. However, he was a bit more versatile, and almost Eddie Murphy like in the second one. Once again, like the first, Myers did double duty playing more than one role. The main role of Austin Powers seems to me to be portrayed pretty similar in both, so no edge there. The next major role is that of Dr. Evil. The character was so fresh in the first one, but one of the main additions Mini-Me made his role in the second just a bit better. The rendition of "Just the Two of Us," for sure puts Dr. Evil in Austin Powers 2 over the original. Lastly we have to look at Myers third role in the second flick. The role of Fat B*stard was new to Austin Powers and added an extra sense of comedy to movie, and showed that Myers was indeed very versatile.
Nod: Austin Powers 2
Elisabeth Hurley vs. Heather Graham
This to me is the major cast difference that makes the second offering much more appealing. Hurley was good in the first Powers, but to me Graham was much better in the second. Hurley seemed so much like a machine in the first one, which she actually turned out to be, but anyways a person is much more appealing than a machine. Graham seems much more like a hippy, which only makes sense since the movie was filmed during that era. Graham just seems to fit more as Austin's love interest.
Nod: Austin Powers 2
Supporting Cast 1 vs. Supporting Cast 2
Number 2 and Scott Evil both reappear from the first Austin Powers and give a relatively even performance in both. The band from the first Powers gave the great segway between scenes, and Elvis Costello did well in the second. So in the end it all comes down to none other than Mini-Me, of course. Vern Troyer did an excellent job along with Mr. Bigglesworth, adding a new element to the Dr. Evil mystique. Also do not forget Jerry Springer either. He added a great cameo appereance that to me gives Austin Powers 2 a clean sweep in cast category.
Nod: Austin Powers 2
Plot
The first one seemed much more interested in Powers actually being involved in secret agent, while the second one is all about the mojo baby. As far as it goes to following the parody of James Bond movies, both are in their own right, correct. However, Bond seemed to be much more of a secret agent, all though he was not that bad with the ladies either. In the end Bond is 007, and in the second offering, Powers was all about the mojo. Now one can go as far to say the mojo helped him in his secret agent work, but for me it was much more about alterior motives that secret agent work.
Nod: Austin Powers 1
The Music
With the cast going to Austin Powers 2 and the plot going to the original offering, it all comes down to....the music?? Well we could talk soundtrack, but to me that has nothing to do with the movie, so where does that leave us. The music can also file under editing, in my opinion. The editing in the first offering used a band that played in the segways between scenes. It was cool at first but towards the end it got a bit old. I like the Elvis Costello addition in the second Powers. He gives a nice cameo that shows that Powers and Felicity Shagwell (Graham) are just meant to be. A great segment in the movie that showed a much more generous loving love other than the sex intentioned love we were used to seeing.
Nod: Austin Powers 2
Overall
Well it comes down to the music in the end, how odd is that. But personally to me, any sequel that measures up evenly to the original in most regards, is a success. I had such a hard time for this write off thinking of any sequels that were better than the original, it is just so hard. Nutty Proffessor 1 vs. 2? Nah, how about Rocky 1 vs. 2, 3, 4, 5? No way, Scream 1 vs. 2, 3? Not even close. So as you can see sequels are a big risk for directors, and for that I give Jay Roach a hand. To me the biggest difference that puts the second Powers over the top is the cast. Heather Graham and Vern Troyer are the major differences, and show that every once in a while a sequel is not so bad after all.
This is part of the "Sequel is Better than the Original Write-Off by mrsocko316, Here are all the participants, check out their reviews as well....
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