SYNOPSIS:
"I was watching Real Sex on HBO, and there was this sex farm outside of Amsterdam," Myers says. "The owner had this hilarious matter-of-fact way of talking about the kinky things in his sex barn." Such was the offbeat inspiration for Austin Powers's newest nemesis, Goldmember, a randy Dutch roller-disco king who'd probably like to shag now and shag later. Myers portrays the bawdy baddie in this third installment of the franchise, which showcases both his skating and tap-dancing skills. In this era-spanning tale, we get to meet Austin and Dr. Evil as teens; Goldmember and Dr. Evil plot against the good of mankind; and Austin must time-travel back to the '70s (where he enlists the help of former flame Foxxy Cleopatra, played by Destiny's Child's Knowles). "My dad was like, 'Oh my God, you look like your mom!' " Knowles says of her father's reaction to her Afro wig and vintage regalia. Austin's own family ties are strengthened when he crosses paths with his secret-agent dad, Nigel Powers (Caine). The British Oscar winner and some of his '60s portrayals have "always been part of the genetic material for Austin Powers," says Myers, who notes that Austin's glasses are modeled after those worn by Caine's character Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File. Further filial overtones are supplied by the continuing clash between Dr. Evil's snarky son, Scott (Green), and his pseudo-son, Mini-Me (Troyer). "Seth and I are always going to have a rivalry," Troyer jokes. "He still wants that affection from Dr. Evil, and I've already gotten it."
"We never thought the [original] would become a mainstream hit," says director Roach, who admits feeling "tremendous pressure to exceed expectations" created by his first two films in the series, which grossed $259 million. "We just made it because we thought it would be funny. But we're pretending now that the trilogy is complete. There is a sense of 'Oh, this all kind of adds up in some crazy, mad way.' " How fitting for a franchise that's been so wild and crazy all along. "Oh, yeah," Knowles says with a laugh, "I was caught up in the mojo." Aren't we all?
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Austin Powers in Goldmember
Release Date: July 26
Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Robert Wagner, and Michael Caine
Directed by: Jay Roach
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Copyright © 2008 Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc.