Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Review
by "Berge Garabedian" (drsuess AT microtec DOT net)June 8th, 1999
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
RATING: 7.5 / 10 --> Very good movie
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A few leans years after ingratiating such popular sayings as "schwing" and "party on" into our modern-day American lexicon, real-life Canuck Mike Myers returns to the big screen with another original shagadelic tale of unhip hip characters with unique styles, tastes and one-liners of their own.
PLOT:
Austin Powers, the international man of mystery and hipster extraordinaire, cryogenically freezes himself for 30 years in order to follow his nemesis, Dr. Evil, through his frozen path into the year 1997. In the future, both men soon discover that the simpler times of the 60s has been replaced by the rapid-paced lifestyles of the 90s.
CRITIQUE:
In the infamous words of Dr. Evil, with his pinky finger diabolically strangling off his mouth, this movie is frickin' clever, man...no need to throw anyone a bone here, man! It's got plenty of kitchy-retro style, a groovy soundtrack, a handful of over-the-top but humorous characters, Mike Myers, who plays both of his characters brilliantly, and a sexy Elizabeth Hurley, purring her way through one of the most purposely overdone and sexist scripts ever to hit the big screen. I personally didn't find any particular scenes laugh out loud funny, but did appreciate almost all the humor in this film, which placed its tongue deep inside the cheek of our favorite James Bond spy flicks from that era.
Will everyone like it? Certainly not. This film will only appeal to those swingers that are "in on the joke" and who could appreciate such low-brow entertainment tactics as jokes featuring penis-enlargement pumps and a man peeing for close to a minute...on-screen. All in all, I was taken in by this film's utter originality, unique dialogue, smashing characters, self-deprecating attitude and Mike Myers' superb performances as both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil. But most of all, I was taken in by this film's infectious enthusiasm, which should lasso in most open-minded lovers of Myers' earlier forays into the World of Wayne. The rest of you could either take it or shag it, baby! Now does that make you horny??
My favorite line came by the way of Austin Powers himself: "Do you like to wash up a bit before? Personally, before I'm on the job I like to give me undercarriage a bit of a "How's your father."
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars:
This film contains two major cameos by actress Carrie Fisher, better known to some as Princess Leia, and big goof Tom Arnold, better known to some as the big goof. Other much smaller cameos include Will Ferrell (as Mustafa), Cheri Oteri (as Flight attendant), Susanna Hoffs (ex-Bangle singer as Ming Tea Member-note that she is married to the director of this film, Jay Roach), Rob Lowe (as friend of Security Guard), Christian Slater (as Easily Fooled Security Guard) and Matthew Sweet (as Ming Tea Member). Model/major babe Cindy Margolis also plays one of the Fembots in this movie. Mike Myers won two 1998 MTV Movie Awards for this film. One for the Best Dance Sequence for "Some London Citizens", to which he dedicated his award to his recently deceased friend Phil Hartman, and Best Villain, for his portrayal of Dr. Evil.
One of the producers of this film is none other than the ex-wife of actor Bruce Willis, and popular actress in her own right, Demi Moore.
In one sequence, a fashion photographer shoots '60s fashions, and the clothes, which look like outlandish science-fiction fantasies, are in fact identical to costumes worn during posing sessions in Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film BLOW UP. The tuneful ring of Austin's picturephone is the same as the hotline phone in the 1965 film OUR MAN FLINT. Please note the obvious poke at the outrageous Bond girl name of Pussy Galore, by the way of the femme fatale in this film called, Alotta Fagina. Richie Cunningham, the name that Austin uses to introduce himself to Number 2, is actually Ron Howard's character name from the popular 60s-based TV sitcom "Happy Days". Ron's brother, Clint Howard, also has a small part in this film as Ritter, the radar operator.
Review Date: June 1, 1999
Director: Jay Roach
Writer: Mike Myers
Producers: Mike Myers, Demi Moore, Jennifer Todd and Suzanne Todd
Actors: Mike Myers as Austin Powers/Dr. Evil Elizabeth Hurley as Vanessa Kensington Genre: Comedy
Year of Release: 1997
(c) 1999 Berge Garabedian
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