DVD-ROM: Austin Powers Revoice Studio (record your own voice to certain scenes)
Widescreen anamorphic format
Despite symptoms of sequelitis, Austin Powers in Goldmember is must-see lunacy for devoted fans of the shagadelic franchise. Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns is in full effect: for every big-name cameo and raunchy double-entendre, there's an equal share of redundant shtick, juvenile scatology, and pop-cultural spoofery. All is forgiven when the hilarity level is consistently high, and Mike Myers--returning here as randy Brit spy Austin, his nemesis Dr. Evil, the bloated Scottish henchman Fat Bastard, and new Dutch disco-villain Goldmember--thrives by favoring comedic chaos over coherent plotting. Once they've tossed Austin into the disco fever of 1975 (where he's sent to rescue his father, gamely played by Michael Caine), Myers and director Jay Roach seem vaguely adrift with old and new characters, including Verne Troyer's Mini-Me and pop star Beyoncé Knowles as Pam Grier-ish blaxpo-babe Foxxy Cleopatra.
DVD features Not surprisingly, deleted scenes and outtakes are the hands-down highlights of Goldmember's abundant Infinifilm features. Mike Myers's throwaway gags are funnier than Pauly Shore's entire career, revealing how a relaxed set encourages a flood of inspired improvisation. The Infinifilm feature is a handy, alternative method of seeing (and hearing) all of the bonus materials in logical sequence, mostly comprising behind-the-scenes featurettes devoted to costumes, special effects, all-star cameos, make-up, and various "social and historical" aspects of the Austin Powers franchise. The Myers/Jay Roach commentary track is worth a listening for Myers's casual jocularity (and his decent willingness to give credit to others), but their Hollywood compliments, while obviously sincere, eventually grow tiresome. More enjoyable are the pop-up subtitles in the DVD's "Fact Track" feature, adding lighthearted factoids to enhance an already very funny movie. Taken together, these features emphasize the productive camaraderie of the Austin Powers team and the devoted seriousness that the filmmakers bring to their pursuit of the next big laugh.
