For as big a Star Wars fans I am, I have to say that I was probably looking forward to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me even more than The Phantom Menace this summer. It's just that I was so taken by the original Austin Powers movie. My friend and I have spent the last year telling each other to "behave" and giving each other "the Dr. Evil finger" anytime we saw a hot chick walk by. So needless to say we were pretty pumped for the sequel, especially after seeing the trailer.

For those of you who haven't seen the first one, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, let me bring you up to speed. Oh forget it, i'm not going to waste my time here going over it with you. Just go over to your local video store right now, rent it and then come back and pick up reading the review right here...

...Okay, now that you're all caught up, the sequel picks up with Dr. Evil (played by Mike Myers, who also plays Austin) returning to the 60s through a time machine to steal Austin's "mojo" (or what gives Austin his, um, prowess with the ladies) while he is still frozen which he believes will render Austin helpless in the '90s and leave him free to take over the world. Confused? Well it doesn't really matter because the plot isn't really important, uh, especially since there really isn't one to speak of. The movie is just one amazingly funny gag after another, and really, what's wrong with that?

Much of the humor is driven by the introduction of a brilliant new character, Dr. Evil's botched 1/8 scale clone who is appropriately dubbed Mini-Me. Okay, i'm don't mean to overstate the fact here, but Mini-Me is quite simply the funniest movie character ever. I mean it...i'm talking in the history of motion pictures! I swear, I want to go out and get a Mini-Me doll right now. Not only is the 28-inch tall Mini-Me the source of about a million great sight gags, but the antagonism between him and Scott Evil (Dr. Evil's son, played by Seth Green who seems to have a gift for playing sarcastic, annoying teens) who are both trying to fight for Dr. Evil's affection also makes for some of the movie's best moments. And the kicker is not only is Mini-Me the coolest, cutest, most hilarious character in history, but the guy can DANCE too! (as evidenced in one of his classic musical numbers with Dr. Evil). The other new character, Fat Bastard (also played by the versatile Myers), is pretty much just gross and many of his scenes are unnecessarily disgusting, but he's notable if only for his wickedly funny Scottish accent (which Myers also used in one of my favorite underrated movies of all time, So I Married An Axe Murderer).

The only weak link is probably Heather Graham (or "Rollergirl," as I affectionately refer to her after her role in Boogie Nights) who definitely looks good in her 60s duds, but doesn't really create the chemistry with Myers that Elizabeth Hurley had in the first movie. (and just as an aside, what the HELL is she still doing with that loser Hugh Grant... Move on Liz, MOVE ON!). But anyways, this movie isn't really about the girls anyway. This is Dr. Evil's show, which you can tell with the increased attention Myers has paid to the character. It's obvious by now that Dr. Evil is much more entertaining than Austin himself, because a majority of the great lines and laughs are generated by Dr. Evil. His Belgian accent and effemminate mannerisms are just knee-slapping funny, and his fatherly lovin' for Mini-Me and penchant for throwing out '90s pop culture references will have you fighting back tears from laughing so hard.

There's a bunch of great cameos to keep your eyes peeled for, and as long as you can put up with a little bit of lowbrow humor and don't waste your time trying to find holes in the movie's timeline (believe me, there are a ton), there's no reason that you won't have a blast at this movie. The Spy Who Shagged Me is a must-see for all you kids out there this summer, and I highly recommend it. Besides, any movie that keeps Rob Lowe working is okay by me.