Never underestimate the power of an unfrozen international man of mystery to entertain moviegoers. Austin Powers (Mike Myers) succeeded uproariously in his first outing (1997) to the tune of $54 million at the box office plus $44 million on video. In this second spoof of James Bond movies, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, that diabolical Dr. Evil (Myers again) steals Austin’s mojo. To get back his all-important essence, Austin travels backwards in time to London in the '60s where he meets Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham), a sexy CIA agent who helps him save the world from destruction.

Is Austin Powers sexist? Yes. Is he crude? Yes. But is he funny? Yeah, bay-bee! Myers (who also co-wrote the screenplay) has this character down pat. Even before he created Austin Powers, this versatile Saturday Night Live alum displayed comic genius in such films as Wayne's World and So I Married An Axe Murderer. His ability to project human eccentricities seems almost uncanny. And when using his gift for physical comedy, he ranks right up there with such legendary comedians as Red Skelton and Sid Caesar.

Myers, a native of Canada, was raised by parents who came from Liverpool, London. "I grew up with all things English --- James Bond as well as Peter Sellers," he explains. It’s no wonder Austin Powers emerged as a combination of both influences. In the first movie, Myers defrosted Austin in the '90s with all his 60’s politically incorrect ideas and outrageous fashion sense intact. For the second film, Austin goes back to the '60s as a man who has developed a bit of '90’s sensibility.

How does the Fab One travel back in time? In a colorful 1998 Volkswagen Beetle convertible with the license plate SWINGER 2, of course! British Intelligence comes up with the most amazing gadgets, as we learned from all those 007 adventures. These inventions have to be incredible to thwart such classic villains as Dr. Evil. This time, Austin’s arch rival has conceived a fiendishly ridiculous scheme requiring giant lasers and a deadly mini-clone. His command post alternates between Starbucks and his very own volcano hideout.

Sometimes a film has no other purpose than to entertain. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is a good example. However, because the movie includes so many crude sight gags and so much juvenile bathroom humor, it will offend many viewers. But alternating with this bad taste are hilariously brilliant scenes satirizing the '60s as well as such '90’s pop culture as The Jerry Springer Show.

Why is Austin Powers so appealing? Director Jay Roach offers one explanation. "He is a guy who has managed to maintain tremendous incompetence in the face of having attained legendary super spy status. No matter how much he bungles the mission up, he’s still the best man for the job. Who else is there like that? Who else has his style?" Who else, indeed.

(Released by New Line Cinema and rated "PG-13" for extremely crude humor and sexual innuendo.)