Well, ol Light House Shines has seen a second screening of AUSTIN POWERS 2, this time a little trimmed down (from the sounds of things) and files in his latest report on the film. You might remember Moriarty and Segue Zagnut's look at the film earlier (both were quite positive) as you read his review, and be sure to keep in mind that this is still a work in progress and will continue to be being tweaked right on up to release. Enjoy...
Well my friends, very seldomly have I bothered to see a film more than once before it's final theatrical release. Let alone twice while it is still in actual test screening form! That is unless I really, really like the film to begin with, or I happen to know that they will change the film yet again before settling on the film's final theatrical version. As I strongly suspected they would do with Austin Powers 2: The spy who shagged me, for I was lucky enough to see the original Austin Powers as a test screening as well. Which was the first test screening ever where I really noticed that quite a lot of things or scenes that never appeared seen in any other version, more so than in any other test screening I have ever seen. As such the version I saw was vastly different from the ultimate theatrical version, as well as greatly different from the later video release with the extended footage tacked on to the end. As that (extended version) had scenes that even I didn't see, such as all of Rob Lowe's scenes were cut out completely the test screening I attended. Though to make up for that, Mr. Lowe now plays the younger or past version of Number Two. Doing an excellent job of imitating Robert Wagners speech and inflections perfectly-who would have thought Rob was so talented outside a bedroom at a national Democratic convention?! Plus in the version I saw, they had a hilarious second group therapy session with Dr. Evil trying to bridge the gap between him and his son Scott Evil, yet only succeeding in further terrifying the rest of the group participants, that I thought never should have been cut as it one of the film's best scenes ( Just in case you didn't know, I have a very dark sense of humor).
Though luckily in Austin Powers latest screen effort, a lot of the
little quirks that made the original film so enjoyable ( or at least
elevated it to cult status). Are brilliantly present and in some case
magnified once again, as the films starts off with Austin learning that
his dear bride Vanessa Kensington-Powers ( A nicely stacked Elizabeth
Hurley, being a good sport for making such a small cameo) is nothing more
than a Fembot (A explosive little wedding gift from by Dr. Evil)! Who is
still orbiting the Earth in a huge Big Boy shaped rocket ship, though that
doesn't last for long as Dr. Evil soon ventures back to Earth to wreck his
own special brand of terror on the world. As the film pretty much picks
right back up from where it left off, inept world domination plans, petty
family squabbles and all other random surreal stuff that made the first
film so enjoyable and then some. As Scott Evil ( nicely played again by
Seth Green) is confronted by his father on The Jerry Springer show,
one of the film's best scenes. Who announces to the studio audience his
plan for world domination, as well as his disdain for his son. Who he
considers to be only quasi evil, and therefor not evil enough for his own
sinister and twisted needs ( Scott Evil is still trying to win the love
and approval of his poor demented Father). Which this time round involve
Dr. Evil traveling back in time to 1969, two years after Austin Powers
was frozen, and stealing his Mojo ( Sexual energy Ba-by!). Therefor
rendering Mr. Powers completely powerless ( Yes it's a silly plot, and
Basil and Austin's characters even comment on this fact) to stop Dr. Evil
from holding the world hostage under threat of annihilation!
So silly plot lines aside, the best thing about this film is still Dr.
Evil and now his diminutive clone "Mini Me", played to perfection by Verne
Troyer. Who makes a welcome addition to the already bizarre cast of
characters as he simply stole the show each and every time he was on
screen. As well as generated the most laughs, especially during his fight
scene with Austin Powers as well as during the rap version of Just the
two of us, sung by Dr. Evil. Probably the funniest moment in the
entire film. As somewhat sadly, the majority of Dr. Evil's scenes or
antics are much more entertaining than anything Austin Powers did on
screen in this sequel. Especially since I really to this day think
that Heather Graham is wasted in this film, playing C.I.A. operative
Felicity Shagwell. As she appears to have no chemistry with Mike Myers at
all, and is merely window dressing as far as I am concerned ( She looks
good wearing practically nothing, as anyone who saw Boogie Nights
can attest to). Though I have to admit I found her less annoying than
I did the first time I saw this film, so perhaps I will learn to love her
the third or fourth time I see the film. As I guess I might see it yet
again, if only to get Mike Myers autograph. Since he did show up yet
again, as well as Seth Green ( All the little teeny-bop girls went wild
with girlish delight at the mere sight of him!).
Now as some of you may know, from reading my initial review over at
Dark Horizons a few weeks ago. I really wasn't all that impressed the
first time I saw this film, though I also stated very clearly that what I
saw was a rough cut or work in progress. Therefor I knew that whatever was
wrong or lacking with the film would hopefully/ultimately be worked out as
the film got closer to it's final release date, which I see has partially
happened. As this most recent version of Austin Powers 2 is a lot better
or smoother than the initial first cut I saw, though it still needs a lot
of work before it lives up to the majesty of it's esteemed predecessor.
For I noticed that throughout the film, the only real editing that was
done was via nipping the tail end of each scene, which really just tended
to cut each scene short. Hence I found that a little bit odd and
disconcerning at times, especially since in some cases they cut out some
of the best parts or lines. Such as Dr. Evil's taking of a Klan members
hood on the Jerry Springer show was edited to the point that you no longer
saw him running around the set as much as he did in the first version
chanting, I got his hood, over and over. Plus they even cut out
the end scenes where past and present number two had sex with each other,
as well as Frau Farbissina ( Excellently played by Mindy Sterling)
confession that she is really Scott Evil's mother on national television
(The Jerry Springer show again). Both of which were two scenes
that I really liked and feel should be included in the final version. So
here's hoping that some of the funnier deleted scenes will make their way
back in the film in it's final version, though I suspect that they will
simply do what they did with the last film. Which is simply wait till the
film's video release for the inclusion of all the additional scenes. As I
would say that about 4 or 5 scenes were cut from the first screening, and
about 10 smaller or mini scenes were added to the second, the majority of
them being to the film's benefit. Though only time and additional editing
will tell for sure, either way heres hoping that they're able to pull
everything together.
Sincerely,
Light House Shines
