Featured Audience Ratings

• KJ P

  
  A much funnier and livelier sequel to a comedy with not a whole lot to offer. The Spy Who Shagged Me is a definite upgrade! I laughed quite hard even though half the jokes were recycled from the first. Jay Roach (Director) just seems to be able to bring more enjoyable style into this… More
  A much funnier and livelier sequel to a comedy with not a whole lot to offer. The Spy Who Shagged Me is a definite upgrade! I laughed quite hard even though half the jokes were recycled from the first. Jay Roach (Director) just seems to be able to bring more enjoyable style into this instalment. Mike Myers finally finds a woman (Heather Graham) who is worthy of writing chemistry for. This film still is not perfect, and the fact that the plot is a man running ramped over his lost MOJO, just seems a little too ridiculous, which is why I love this film so much. In the end, it's just another hilarious comedy, but not one that I would watch over and over again!

• Daniel M

  
  While making a successful sequel is difficult in its own right, it becomes especially difficult when you're dealing with comedies. Great comedies so often work because they are beautifully self-contained, with the filmmakers quitting before the joke runs out of steam or the… More
  While making a successful sequel is difficult in its own right, it becomes especially difficult when you're dealing with comedies. Great comedies so often work because they are beautifully self-contained, with the filmmakers quitting before the joke runs out of steam or the conceit begins to fall apart. Making a sequel, in which you revisit said jokes or conceit, has the effect of either stretching out or repeating the material until it's no longer funny, or even to the point where we begin to feel unfavourably towards the original. There are a lot of bad comedy sequels out there which represent a fall from grace compared to the original. But with the possible, painful exception of The Odd Couple II, no sequel represents a bigger drop in quality than Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. This film swiftly disposes of all the assets possessed by its predecessor, replacing them with poorly-written, poorly-timed gags which will send even Bond's biggest critics rushing back to the open arms of The World Is Not Enough. The result is an awful, unfunny and often mean-spirited comedy which should have ended this series. The film is best summed up by Kim Newman's quote about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2: "it seems to have been made by someone who not only didn't make the first film, but who never actually saw it." Everything that was right about the first Austin Powers (which was not a perfect film by any means) is either completely absent from this sequel, or so watered-down and half-arsed that it may as well not be here at all. Where the first film attempted to marry gross-out humour with some kind of ambitious satire, the humour in The Spy Who Shagged Me is as broad and boring as it gets. The best moments in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery were the smart insights into the clichés of the Bond series and the spy genre as a whole. Whether it was Scott pointing out the inconsistencies in his father's plan, the therapy scene with Dr. Evil's bizarre backstory, or the cutaways to the family and friends of the sidekicks - these were all well-written and intelligent jokes which had something to say about their source material. While these jokes ultimately struggled for room amongst the broader, more adolescent gags, the fact that they were there at all gave the first film a sense of ambition - a sense consolidated by its timing, at the height of Pierce Brosnan's neo-classical Bond. Unfortunately, director Jay Roach got the wrong end of the stick. He clearly believes that the reason for the first film's high box office was the abundance of toilet humour and cheap gags. So rather than build on the analysis of the first film and deepen Austin's character, he resorts to flinging these jokes at us, the vast majority of which are run into the ground as the plot grinds to a halt. The problem is not with gross-out humour as a concept - National Lampoon's Animal House made it work, as did American Pie not long after this film's release. The problem is that it feels like a lazy comedown after the intelligence of the first film, and that Roach seems utterly incapable of marshalling the jokes into anything that could assist the storytelling or characters. Proof of this film's status as one big missed opportunity is found in its central conceit. The setup contains an interesting little idea: what good is Austin Powers (and thereby Bond) without his sex appeal? This could have been a funny, intelligent way to send up the series, addressing the accusations of sexism and giving the female characters more to play with (stop sniggering). But instead the idea of Austin "losing his mojo" is introduced and then left as nothing more than an overarching theme, while different SNL-style interludes wander into shot, fall flat and then cease to have any significance. Another example of this is the opening five minutes, where Vanessa (Austin's love interest in the first film) is revealed to be a fembot and tries to kill him. Again, this is an idea that could really work: it's a bizarrely funny explanation for why Bond always has a different love interest in every film, despite going all the way with every Bond girl. But instead the film embraces the very cliché it is trying to send up; Austin can start afresh and we can repeat all the romantic interactions of the first film. The whole film falls into this trap, with the reversal of the time periods allowing outdated attitudes to be expressed without a hint of irony. If the first film wanted us to laugh while also poking fun and trying to make a point, this film, to quote Basil Exposition, just wants us to enjoy ourselves and resist the urge to think too much. This scene epitomises the film: it's a half-decent joke, surrounded by a lack of ambition bordering on contempt, all served with a shit-eating grin. No matter how hard the film tries to entertain us, it is never funny enough to hold together in such a way that we wouldn't question its mechanics. When I reviewed The Princess Bride, I spoke about the need for spoofs to have stories that work on their own terms - in other words, an internal logic so that the jokes make sense within their exaggerated take on our reality. While International Man of Mystery was reasonably believable in this regard, this film keeps on ramping up the ludicrous until we have given up trying to make sense of the world, and thereby given up on the characters within it. There are certain things that we can tolerate on the basis of generic convention - for instance, time seeming to stand still so Austin and Felicity can have a moment when the base is about to explode. But when you try to work out how the moon base actually got there, or how Fat Bastard hasn't aged in 30 years, there'll be precious little else that you can tolerate. When it comes to the actual humour of The Spy Who Shagged Me, the jokes fall into two camps. The first camp consists of jokes which are deeply derivative, adding weight to the view of this film as a hurried cash-in. Even die-hard Bond fans make fun of Moonraker, so setting the entire third act in space isn't exactly pushing the envelope. Moreover the Star Wars jokes seem to have been included simply because the Special Editions had recently come out. Not only are the jokes two years late, but they say nothing that Mel Brooks didn't do in Spaceballs more than a decade prior to this. The second camp consists of jokes which might have some potential but are so laboured that they might as well not have bothered. The tent scene, involving sexual suggestion with shadows, takes one half-decent gag about the positioning of Austin's backside and draws it out so much that it becomes embarrassing. The montage of penis euphemisms is quite funny the first time around, but to do it again so quickly smacks of desperation. Both examples are indicative of Roach's lack of discipline and confidence in the material: rather than working hard to give the audience new joke, he keeps cutting back to the same joke way after the punch-line because he simply has nothing else to give. On top of all this, the film is pretty mean-spirited. Neither Fat Bastard nor Mini Me are particularly funny in their own way: both are essentially one-joke roles that don't move the plot forward in any manner. But what's worse is that the film derives much of its humour from laughing at their respective sizes, something which is neither funny nor clever. Fat Bastard exists only to make fun of fat people, with his sex scene with Heather Graham being as painful to watch as his schmaltzy monologue at the end. As for Mini Me, he exists only to be thrown around, punched and to crawl around inside Austin's suit before being farted out into space. Put simply, you know that your film's in bad shape when a cameo by Will Ferrell is the least of your problems - and as before, he brings the whole plot to a shuddering halt. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is a great case study of how not to make a comedy sequel. Not only does it neglect, ignore or reverse everything that made the first film work, but it has a meaner, crueller streak which undoes whatever comic potential remains in Myers' performances. Its jokes are flat and lazy, Roach's direction is aimless and the story is far weaker than the first first. Myers' comic talent remains somewhere in the mix, but as Pierce Brosnan quipped in Goldeneye, it's not exactly his finest hour.

• AJ V

  
  The original is always the best, of course, but this movie has all the characters from the first, continues the story in an hilarious way, adds new characters, and is as funny as the first using the same style, so it is worth watching. If you like Mike Myers' humor, you must see… More
  The original is always the best, of course, but this movie has all the characters from the first, continues the story in an hilarious way, adds new characters, and is as funny as the first using the same style, so it is worth watching. If you like Mike Myers' humor, you must see this.

• Phil H

  
  Probably Myers greatest creation which managed to eclipse 'Wayne's World' in terms of money made and cultural influences, the first film did well but this second outing did even better. So we know the score with 'Powers', we know what its all about and this… More
  Probably Myers greatest creation which managed to eclipse 'Wayne's World' in terms of money made and cultural influences, the first film did well but this second outing did even better. So we know the score with 'Powers', we know what its all about and this film merely doubles on that and goes balls out for a greater 'Bond' spoof than before. Everything in this is almost a cultural reference to something, there are many in-jokes and clever gags which some young viewers may not catch, despite the incredible amount of lunacy involved the film is actually very sharp and witty. Personally I'm not really a fan of Myers so you may think its crazy to watch a film where he plays all the lead roles, well yes..your right, but I must admit to having a guilty pleasure in watching 'Dr Evil' crack the whip and spew some excellent verbal. For me its all about 'Dr Evil', without this one creation I wouldn't be interested and luckily you get plenty of him here. Myers limit is exposed in my opinion here as he literately shows us all he can do...childish spoofery (as we all know with 'WW') and a Scottish accent...and that's pretty much it. We know this because he uses his only other skill (Scottish accent) for 'Shrek'...which is also a spoof. I think if it isn't a spoof or doesn't involve his favourite accent he's pretty much screwed. Also gotta be honest with the fact this second film isn't tooooo different from the first film, the first was fresh but this does seem a tad repetitive, probably why we got 'Mini Me' so 'Dr Evil' had more to go with. Its still darn funny in places and with continuity kept up with all major characters returning with original cast and everything looks as you would expect but is obviously boosted up thanks to the success from the original. The whole film has that kind of trashy cheap B-movie look which also in-turn does have that kind of expensive trashy cheap B-movie look hehe but it does work, kinda like 'The Naked Gun'. Overall its just more of the zany 'Bond' spoofery with a hint of added grown up humour which does make it more appealing over the first, less childish slapstick and more sniggering silliness for childish adults ;)

• Directors C

  
  This breakthrough for Mike Myers is almost impossible to resist. Like its predecessor, this sequel is trashy and juvenille but it's also aware of what it is and can be hilariously cocky. Mike Myers is game and although juvenille it's everyone's guilty pleasure.

• Alexander D

  
  From having seen the entire James Bond series (aside from NEVER SAY NEVER and the 1967 spoof CASINO ROYALE, the two unofficial entries), I can easily say that THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME was an accurate take on almost every subtlety in the early series. Who would have thought that Sean… More
  From having seen the entire James Bond series (aside from NEVER SAY NEVER and the 1967 spoof CASINO ROYALE, the two unofficial entries), I can easily say that THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME was an accurate take on almost every subtlety in the early series. Who would have thought that Sean Connery's ugly chest-hair could have ever been so comically and hysterically exaggerated? It could have been a little more serious, plot-wise, but the laughs elicited are no less than massive. Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-zM

• Eric A

  
  For some reason I liked this one more than the first, but the critics and ratings seem to disagree. The comedy gets even wittier.

• Tim S

  
  I'm not an enormous fan of the Austin Powers series (I prefer Wayne's World), but having said that, this is a fun sequel. It's nowhere near as funny and memorable as the first one, but it has some ok stuff in it. They really went to town with gross-out comedy this time… More
  I'm not an enormous fan of the Austin Powers series (I prefer Wayne's World), but having said that, this is a fun sequel. It's nowhere near as funny and memorable as the first one, but it has some ok stuff in it. They really went to town with gross-out comedy this time around instead of just being zany, which is a step down in quality to me. The first film is more about comedic timing and zaniness, which is much more funny to me than watching someone drink a cup of shit. I'm not really as fond of the sequels, obviously, and while it made me laugh the first couple of times around, the repeatability factor is in the toilet (how fitting).

• Jeff "

  
  The Spy Who Shagged Me is a terrific, hilarious sequel to the first Austin Powers movie. The filmmakers have built on the success of the first film, and crafted a film thats just as good as the original. This second entry also introduces a memorable Austin Powers villain, Fat Bastard… More
  The Spy Who Shagged Me is a terrific, hilarious sequel to the first Austin Powers movie. The filmmakers have built on the success of the first film, and crafted a film thats just as good as the original. This second entry also introduces a memorable Austin Powers villain, Fat Bastard also played by Mike Myers. Thew Spy Who Shagged Me is a hilarious film with the usual things that make an Austin Powers film good. This film is a rare example of a comedy sequel that works. The Austin Powers film are an exception because every film in the franchise has something hilarious and memorable\. The Spy Who Shagged Me is a non stop laugh fest with a good cast of comedic actors starring aloingside Mike Myers. This is a fine comedy thats very well written, acted and directed. The humour is top notch and is never dull. Mike Myers who now plays three roles, is hilarious in the roles he plays, and he is simply memorable as the dimwitted villains, Dr Evil and Fat Bastard. The filmmakers have crafted a solid comedy to a really good James Bond parody and it works on many levels due to the clever script. For thjose who enjoyed the first Austin Powers film, this second entry will definitely deliver even more laughs than the first. Everythjing is raised in this sequel and it succeeds in delivering something very funny on screen.

• Jim C

  
  Best in the series by far. Funny, cool, and best girl in series. Mini Me and Fat Bastard were great adds to the series. I had a few gross parts, but in the end this is the best in the series.

• xGary X

  
  The international man of mystery returns to be sent back to 1969 and recover his mojo which has been stolen by Dr. Evil in his plot to destroy every city on Earth with his deadly "Death Star". I don't know whether it's because jokes are never as funny the second… More
  The international man of mystery returns to be sent back to 1969 and recover his mojo which has been stolen by Dr. Evil in his plot to destroy every city on Earth with his deadly "Death Star". I don't know whether it's because jokes are never as funny the second time around or just because I was wasted the first time I saw it, but I remember this being a lot funnier than it is. It's more parodying of sixties spy films in general and James bond in particular, as Mike Myers throws the comedy kitchen sink at the idea with the same formula of silliness, slapstick and nob jokes that makes it feel very much like a modern version of a Carry On film. His scattershot approach means that it's never too long between lines that cause a smile but it's very hit and miss. Once more Myers seems to think that putting on a Scottish accent is hilarious (it isn't) and some of the jokes go on way too long, in particular the Jerry Springer sequence that dates it badly. There are loads of cameos from an amusing supporting cast and it's always colourful and fun, but as a whole it's the kind of film that's much better watched with beers and company than without.

• Richard C

  
  really funny, the best out of the series. B+

• Mike S

  
  Mike Myers may have made a lot of crap in his career (<i>Cat in the Hat</i>, <i>The Grinch</i> and <i>The Love Guru</i> coming to mind), but when he gets things right, he does so brilliantly. And I couldn't think of a better example of that… More
  Mike Myers may have made a lot of crap in his career (<i>Cat in the Hat</i>, <i>The Grinch</i> and <i>The Love Guru</i> coming to mind), but when he gets things right, he does so brilliantly. And I couldn't think of a better example of that than this second (and in my opinion best) Austin Powers movie. The sexually suggestive jokes may not be to everyones taste, but I for one love it, and always find myself entertained by the wonderfully wacky style of humor. A little silly and uneven sometimes, but for the most part really funny. So if there's a better James Bond parody out there somewhere, I sure haven't seen it yet.

• Conner R

  
  Just lame humor that only fifth graders can find funny. The plot is a rehash of the first and nothing new. The whole idea of a spoof is ruined when you make sequels to spoofs that don't have real counterparts. I feel the same way about this as I do about Naked Gun.

• Dean !

  
  Quite funny but seemed to just reload a lot of the best stuff from the first and it's not as funny second time round. Still has plenty of good moments but not as good as the first I thought.

• Jason O

  
  Much, much better than the original, which I totally despised. This one's actually funny in parts and easy to sit through.

• Anthony L

  
  A big improvement on the original with some really funny moments.

• Leigh R

  
  It was funny, I admit it.

• Cassie H

  
  Hillarious!!!

• Lenny M

  
  Funny, but unnecessary.

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