We're going to see Austin Powers III tonight. I've seen little but mediocre to poor reviews of it, and I expect it to be highly sophomoric and a bit of a letdown. I'm positive I'm going to enjoy it and will probably see it three or four times.

Here's the thing that no one seems to notice. The first Austin Powers got mediocre to poor reviews. I saw it and I thought they were deserved. I thought it was dumb. But I kind of chuckled enough at it that when my lovely wife rented it a few months later, I watched it again, and I chuckled a little more. The third time I saw it I laughed hard.

Then the second Austin Powers movie came out. I was disappointed. I didn't think it stood up to the first movie. It had a few funny moments, but it was really stupid and kind of gross. I agreed with the critics that it wasn't as good as the first. But sure as heck, the second time I saw it, at home, I laughed a little more. Third, fourth, fifth viewing, ever single time I saw it, it just got funnier. I can now start watching it at any point and enjoy myself.

I'm not expecting to immediately fall in love with Goldmember. I can hardly wait. :-)