“Oh, behave!” —Austin Powers
Today’s quick review: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. When his nemesis Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) cryogenically freezes himself to terrorize the future, 60s superspy Austin Powers (Mike Myers) has no choice but to follow him into the 90s. Waking up to a world very different from the one he left, Austin Powers teams up with Agent Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley) to hunt down Dr. Evil and foil his plot to hold the world ransom.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a spy comedy written by and starring Mike Myers. Austin Powers is spoof of the spy genre, playing up the free love attitude of the 60s and poking fun at iconic moments from the James Bond films. The movie brings a lot to the table: vivid characters, sight gags, cultural humor, and a wealth of spy cliches to lampoon. These elements combine to make Austin Powers a memorable and enjoyable watch.
The heart of the movie is Austin himself, the living embodiment of the 60s party scene. His promiscuous attitude and boundless confidence are the driving force behind most of the film’s humor. At the same time, Austin has an innocence about him that keeps him from coming on too strong. Meanwhile, Dr. Evil balances out the film perfectly, a fumbling pastiche of grandiose Bond villains like Blofeld.
The one major downside of the film is that it has a strong flavor to it. The jokes are crude and sexually charged, the characters are ridiculous, and Myers’ style of humor depends on a very specific balance of absurdity and charm. Austin Powers usually hits the mark with its comedy, giving it some appeal even for viewers who dislike the overall tone, but for some viewers, it still may be too much.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is well worth a watch for anyone who doesn’t mind a bit of raunchy humor. Although often crass, its jokes score hit after hit, thanks to its colorful characters and inventive script. Anyone interested should give it a shot, especially fans of Mike Myers or Bond films. Those looking for a more polite comedy should look elsewhere.
For another comedy from Mike Myers, try Wayne’s World or So I Married an Axe Murderer. For a 60s spy comedy with a similar attitude and less raunchy humor, try Our Man Flint. For a somewhat less enduring spy parody with an even greater emphasis on sight gags and physical humor, try Spy Hard.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for fun jokes and an original premise.