Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers, Seth Green, Robert Wagner, Tom Arnold (uncredited), Carrie Fisher (uncredited), Rob Lowe (uncredited)
Directed by: Jay Roach
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: To stop Dr. Evil (Mike Myers), Austin Powers (Mike Myers) is awoken from his cryogenic sleep, which he'd been in since the 1960s. Now, Austin tries to adjust to the new world around him, while trying to stop his nemesis.

Review:

Tim: I actually love Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. It's a stupid movie, but it's really, really funny (and surprisingly "smart" for a stupid film). Mike Myers does a fantastic job of creating a very entertaining James Bond parody that manages to stand on its own. So many parody movies depend entirely on their riffing on the source material for laughs. Whether you've ever seen a spy film or not, you could ifnd this movie accessible and entertaining. This is one of my favorite comedies of the late 1990s.

I love the premise of having Austin Powers cryogenically frozen in the 1960s and thawed out in the 1990s. That immediately sets up a fish-out-of-water story, that allows us to harmlessly laugh at the crazy 1960s culture while also reflecting on what makes the 1990s unique as well. This premise is mined for many of the film's jokes, but in the context of this film, it works.

Myers did a terrific job of creating this character. Austin Powers is instantly recognizable and memorable. He has bad teeth, but incredible charisma. He's a ladies man, but is somewhat tender as well. He's a good guy through and through. In short, he's a very funny character to whom we can relate. From his ridiculous laugh, to his continuous catch phrases ("Yeah baby!"), he's a wonderful movie creation. Now, Myers also does good work playing his own nemesis in Dr. Evil. He's a bit more of a direct rip off of James Bond villain Blofield, but he's still fun to watch on screen. Myers plays him very differently, and a great deal of the enjoyment of this film comes from watching Myers play two very different characters who are opposed to each other.

I loved the casting of Elizabeth Hurley. She works really well in this film, and has just enough talent to play things straight while not taking herself too seriously. She and Myers worked well together. I liked seeing Seth Green as Scott Evil- he has a few terrific lines.

Perhaps the ultimate evaluation of any comedy comes down to how funny it is. This film is really, really funny. There's just so many classic moments. I'll never forget the extra long urination scene to introduce us to Austin. There's a whole host of funny lines throughout the entire film, and I won't go into all of them. This film is just a fun, juvenile movie that has some big laughs in it.

I'm a big fan of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The movie works on many different levels, and is just a pleasant viewing experience. It's a great movie to watch purely for the entertainment value. This is one of the better comedies out there, and among my favorites.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember