As much as I’d like to see a good sequel to Austin Powers, I kinda feel like the posters are forgetting about The Love Guru in hoping for a progressive, non-tone deaf story. 😬
IMO, I couldn't get through the first episode because too many of the jokes fell flat. The overall concept was brilliant, and Myers' track record suggested that this recipe couldn't fail. To me, the story and circumstances were humorous, satirical, even witty in places, but not funny. And with a story that is moving in service of flat jokes, it just didn't work for me.
I look back and think that whatever was in the room that made Austin Powers tick, just wasn't there. Writing? Direction? People to keep Mike reined in? More/better ensemble characters? Who knows.