By Rebecca Thomas BBC News Online entertainment staff

Mike Myers as Austin Powers needs no introduction.

His dandy, testosterone-fuelled persona has become so ubiquitous even those who avoided Powers 1 and 2 will feel they know him through and through.

Those who did brave the Man of Mystery's first two outings will have an even cosier sense of familiarity with this his third, Goldmember.

Well-known characters and gags return and Myers is never far from one of his famous catchphrases.

Dr Evil retuns to wreak havoc

But what is different, besides the variations in the plot, is the revitalised comic verve of Myers.

His scriptwriting skills and performance have sharpened since The Spy Who Shagged Me.

At times, there are even flashes of genius, reminiscent of Peter Sellers at his legendary best.

But before we get carried away, let's not forget that this is Austin Powers - a fictional cinematic phenomenon built on an infinitely repeatable formula.

Like before, Goldmember sees our spoof spy up against his nemesis Dr Evil and his accomplice Mini-Me.

The dastardly duo escape from a maximum-security prison and team up with the mysterious and peculiar Goldmember - whose most private anatomical part is predictably precious metal-enhanced.

Dr Evil hatches scheme to travel back in time and take over the world, which involves kidnapping Nigel Powers, Austin's father and England's most renowned spy.

Crude humour is the order of the day

As Austin Powers chases the villains into history, he lands in 1975 and joins forces with his old flame, Foxxy Cleopatra.

Together, Powers and Foxxy must find a way to save Nigel and stop Dr Evil and Goldmember from causing global chaos.

Opening the film is the regular Powers spoof James Bond dramatic set-piece.

The host of A-list Hollywood stars to feature in this send-up is a testament to Myers' status amongst the movie community elite.

And, in many ways, this hilarious but irrelevant preamble is the highlight of the film.

From then on Goldmember is on a roll, as it embarks on a mind-bending ride of insanity with gut-wrenching crudity thrown in - courtesy in the main of Fat Bastard and Goldmember, who has a predilection for eating his own skin.

That Myers knows the full extent of his film's absurdity is obvious, and surely that is precisely the point.

Caine is allowed to shine as Lothario Nigel

He is having a massive laugh, and expects us, by now, to be in on the joke.

Then, there is the baiting element driving Myers' manic mayhem, as he revels in assaulting the sensibilities, challenging our levels of tolerance in a cat and mouse game to see just who will give up first.

No, subtlety is not Myers' objective but, that said, the lightness of his comic talent shines through.

As deliberate as it may be, there is no denying the genius of Myers' multiple roles as Powers, Dr Evil, Goldmember and Fat Bastard.

And the two-way banters between Dr Evil and his son Scott and Powers and his father Nigel are side-splitting delights.

To be fair, Myers also lets the legendary Sir Michael Caine shine in his role as the suave cockney Nigel.

But inevitably, it is Myers who steals the show. Austin Powers is his creation, his star vehicle.

And if his third screen adventure is a box office triumph, there will no mistake as to where the credit is due.

Austin Powers - Goldmember is previewed in selected cinemas across the UK on 25 July and is on general release nationwide from 26 July.