Goldmember

By EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating: * * * )

IT WAS funny the first time, less so in the second. Mike Myers, the world's funniest Canadian (oh, hang on, we didn't count Leonard Cohen), puts on his Carnaby St clobber for the third time as 70s superspy Austin Powers and battles once again with his nemesis, Dr Evil (Myers), and insignificant accomplice Mini Me (Verne J. Troyer).

The story: Dr Evil and his sidekick escape from the maximum-security prison where we left them. They escape and Basil Exposition (Michael York) calls for Austin's assistance.

Seems Dr Evil has joined forces with Dutch skating fiend Goldmember (Myers again) and plans to travel back in time to kidnap Austin's father, Nigel (Michael Caine).

Our hero heads back to 1975 to head them off with help of an old girlfriend, Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles). Reeling in the years, he'll clash with Dr Evil's former associate Fat Bastard (Myers again), No 2 (Robert Wagner) and Dr Evil's son, Scott (Seth Green).

This time around, don't expect too much that's new — even some of the jokes are from the earlier movies, and Myers and his co-writer Michael McCullers resort to throwing in several musical sequences just to fill out the 95 minutes.

If they're having trouble killing time, you'll find it even more difficult. Perhaps this is the one that should have been called Die Another Day.

So it's time to put the flares back in the attic, many would suggest, but there's a twist in the tale for DVD viewers. Goldmember is one of those productions where the disc is far better than the original flick.

The special features are split into two different areas: Beyond the Movie and All Access Pass.

The first section covers five pieces related to the film but not to the making of the picture. International Men of Mystery is a feature about MI6, the British spy organisation; English, English explains Cockney rhyming slang with the help of Caine and York; in Disco Fever, Myers and his execs discuss disco music and fashions and their influence on the movie. Fashion Vs Fiction carries on that clothing theme.

All Access Pass has commentary from director Jay Roach and Myers. There are 14 deleted scenes, plus outtakes, before The World of Austin Powers splits into five smaller sections. Jay Roach and Mike Myers: Creative Convergence is a backgrounder on the duo, there are profiles of characters including Goldmember, Foxxy Cleopatra, Nigel Powers, Masters Powers and Evil.

Each includes shots from the set plus remarks from Roach, Myers, York, Caine, Knowles, minor players and crew members.

Finally, there's a behind-the-scenes of the fab opening stunt scene and, for the boys, a look at the cars.

Anatomy of Three Scenes shows how the filmmakers worked up their ideas, there are four music videos from Knowles, Britney Spears (Boys), Ming Tea (Daddy Wasn't There) and Dr Evil jiving with Mini-Me on Hard Knock Life.