"Yeah, Baby, Check out Evil's New Digs"
--Ted Fry, Film.com (Thursday Seattle Times)
"The hottest ticket this side of "The Phantom Menace" is SIFF's closing night gala on Sunday when Seattle goes shagadelic for the debut of "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." But only 600-odd passholders, VIPs and early birds will be lucky enough to see it. Advance tickets have been sold out since before the festival started, and the film's distributor, New Line, has restricted SIFF from playing the expected summer hit for more people than can fit in one house at the Pacific Place Cinemas.
Director Jay Roach, who also helmed the first Austin flick, will be on hand, but Mike Myers isn't expected at the screening for the '60s-themed shindig afterward. Then again, Bruce Willis wasn't expected to show up for "Breakfast of Champions" on opening weekend. Whether or not Myers does show, Seattle audiences have an extra special reason to cheer the movie: the Space Needle serves as the nefarious Dr. Evil's new secret lair. Austin's nemesis and alter ego even has his own Starbucks atop the landmark hideout, complete with green-aproned baristas.
The rest of the world has to wait until June 11 for the return of Mike Myers' beloved character when "The Spy Who Shagged Me" opens big. And I do mean big. The sequel has lately sparked all kinds of industry talk about making even more of a splash than expected. In the wake of "Star Wars" mania, Austin Powers could be the force that proves to be an actual menace to peace and justice in the summer movie galaxy.
Its hype hasn't quite reached "Star Wars" proportions, but the movie is poised to take a bite out of "The Phantom Menace's" box-office power. "The Spy Who Shagged Me" even boasts its own line of action figures, designed by Todd McFarlane Toys. Soon Darth Maul and Qui-Gonn will be playing with Dr. Evil, Felicity Shagwell and Austin himself (fully clothed, or in Union Jack undies), in the homes of toy collectors everywhere." |
