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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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399 comments in total

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45 out of 52 people found the following comment useful :-
This should have been done years ago!!, 19 August 2002

Author: Michael DeZubiria (miked32@hotmail.com) from Luoyang, China

In a time when we are almost constantly barraged with goofy spoof films, it's amazing that no one had come out with a spoof of the James Bond films until 1997. Those movies have been coming out and just BEGGING to be spoofed since the early 60s, and Mike Meyers is the one who finally steps forward to do what simply has to be done, and he does a wonderful job at it.

Fans of the James Bond films will have a blast looking for all of the allusions to the old Bond films and trying to determine which Bond film is being spoofed at any given time, but it's important to keep in mind that the film pokes fun at the Bond series in good taste. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is never disrespectful to the films that it makes fun of, which is probably the single most important thing about a spoof film that makes it good. This is why the Scary Movies, as just a couple of examples, were such dismal, hideous failures. They try to be funny by viciously making fun of all kinds of movies, and end up looking stupid because they have such a nonexistent right to do that. You can't make a stupid, stupid movie and make fun of a lot of great movies (and some not so great, admittedly) and try to pretend to be respectable at the end of it all. That's the recipe for a crapfest.

While it's true that a lot of the comedy in the first Austin Powers film is slapstick and obviously contrived, I think it should be a testament to the quality of the film that it is still so funny! We see all of the traditional Bond clichés in this movie, such as the usual one-liners (which are made fun of extensively and with spectacular effect here), the fancy cars, the goofy cockiness, the teeth-grinding theme song, and the occasionally inexplicable popularity with the women (this allusion makes most sense when compared to those Bond films that starred Roger Moore).

The plot involves a rivalry between Dr. Evil, an evil mastermind bent on world domination, and Austin Powers, a mockish caricature of James Bond, bent on stopping Dr. Evil's world domination schemes. Meyers portrays both characters with hilarious skill, making Austin an awkward womanizer with some serious dental problems, and Dr. Evil an evil schemer with a hilarious cutesy side. Neither character really seems like they belong in the role that they serve (as a spy and a doctor of evil), which is where a lot of the comedy comes in. There is also, of course the fact that they both spend most of the movie 30 years in their future, completely out of touch with the new world that they live in.

This is not a movie to be taken seriously, and quite frankly, I can't understand all of these reviews that I've read on the IMDb that are constantly complaining that Austin Powers is so cheesy or so childish. I've heard this same complaint about lots of other movies that are also not meant to be taken seriously, but this one is especially confusing. I trust that all you people complaining about how childish Austin Powers is realize that it is a spoof based on a whole series of movies that are also not meant to be taken seriously, right? I mean, that would be a hell of an oversight to miss that little detail. Austin Powers is one of the most refreshing comedies to come along in years, and it's sad that there are so many people who completely missed the boat on this one just because they pretend that the movie is something that it's not and was never meant to be. It's true that the movie is immensely immature and that it has unfortunately little re-watch value (one of the biggest problems with the film), but the quality of the comedy is unmistakable.

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36 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
Here's A Fast-Moving 90 Minutes, 6 October 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Austin Powers: Man of Mystery I'm embarrassed to admit this one-and-a-half hours of hedonistic humor was so enjoyable, but it was, and the two sequels weren't bad, either, but not as good as this one.

This is stupid; this is corny; it has way too many sexual innuendos, particularly for the millions of teens who saw this film.....but it is undeniably funny. It's also extremely colorful and the '60s clothing is a hoot to see once again (yeah, I remember it well.) This is the like the TV-program "Laugh-In," but with a dumb story.

I have no complaints looking at Elizabeth Hurley ("Vanessa Kensington") and Michael Myers ("Austin Powers"), with his crooked teeth, stupid grin and ridiculous sayings made me laugh. This is a very fast-moving film, a spoof of James Bond and a spoof of the crazy '60s.

The 90 minutes go by quickly.

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29 out of 32 people found the following comment useful :-
The Finest Spoof..., 15 March 1999

Author: Tim Cox from Marietta, OH

In this hilarious spoof of 60's spy flicks, a swinging secret agent is thawed out of his cryogenic state in order to combat his old nemesis. The laughs never stop as Myers entertains in two pivotal roles. Hurley is sexy as Austin's partner and love interest. Robert Wagner finds ways to make fun of his "It Takes a Thief" character and is very entertaining in the process. A quickly paced film that generates constant laughs with each viewing. A sequel is soon to be released...Yeah, baby!

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19 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Raunchy humor,but a fun spoof, 8 July 2002

Author: SmileysWorld from United States

Aside from it's overwhelmingly raunchy humor,I consider this to be a great spoof of the spy genre and 60's culture.Mike Myers has created yet two more endearing characters in Powers and his nemisis,Dr.Evil.When certain characters inspire imitation (and who hasn't at least heard imitations of these two,or perhaps even Robert Wagner's character, Number 2 and others),then you have done something right.This movie is good for it's amusing characters and good story line,but again I think it would have worked without so much vulgar humor.Worth a look.

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18 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
Finally, a good Bond spoof, 8 March 2004

Author: Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark

This is really a funny parody of the Bond movies. This is the best thing to watch if you've seen a typical by-the-numbers Bond movie, one of the old ones, for example, and thought it was ridiculous, or at the very least something other than great. The plot is directly spoofing the old Bond movies, with an evil villain trying to take over the world. The acting is pretty good, for a spoof movie; the characters are mostly caricatures and stereotypes, to further parody the Bond movies, but they add to the humor of the film. Mike Myers is great in this movie, pretty much anyone who likes him will probably enjoy him in this. I loved how it was spoofing the Bond movies, sometimes even mentioning the ludicrousness of the characters actions in details. If you're into 60's stereotypes, crude sexual humor and some great Bond-spoof action, you'll most likely enjoy this. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys spoof movies, and who's seen at least one Bond movie and thought it was a bit ridiculous. It's filled to the brink with crude sexual innuendo and Bond-spoofing. 8/10

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
"Shagadellic", 17 February 2004

Author: GMNL89 from Staten Island, New York

A shagadellic movie baby, yeah. This is one of Mike Myers' classic movies. Mike(Wayne's World) is the man playing Austin and Dr. Evil, Liz Hurley(Bedazzled) is excellent as Vanessa, and Seth Green(Rat Race) is funny as hell playing Scott. Some of the world's greatest celebrities also make cameo appearences in this classic including Tom Arnold(True Lies), Cindy Margolis(model), Will Ferrell(Saturday Night Live), Charles Napier(tough guy roles), and Mike Judge(Beavis and Butthead) as Beavis and Butthead, who all make this comedy even more funny. There is no way if anyone watches this movie, they will not laugh; and the series gets funnier by movie.

For whoever is reading this and hasn't seen the movie: If you watch this movie, you will laugh your head off!

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Shagadelic, baby, yeah!, 28 July 2002

Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

When I saw "Austin Powers", I was on the floor laughing. This movie has every single memorable line you could possibly imagine. From "Yeah, baby!" to "Riiiiiight", Mike Myers is a genius when it comes to comedy! I think everyone could say that they laughed at least once to this film.

Paroding of the James Bond flicks, Austin Powers is an international spy who is a lady's man. Dr. Evil, is Arch Nemesis, goes into the future of 1997 and now Austin must travel through time to find him. When he gets to 1997, he has a beautiful assistant, Vanessa, who happens to be the daughter of his former flame in the 60's. Vanessa resists Austin's charm and wants to stick to business while Austin is wasting no time to get to his "business" with her. Dr. Evil learns that he has a son, Scott played by Seth Green. When Scott isn't as excited to have Dr. Evil as a father, Dr. Evil tries anything he can to get Scott to love him, including a hilarious scene in a counseling group for father's and son's. But back into action, Austin must find Dr. Evil before he rules the world with his kitty, Mr. Bigglesworth. But can he do that and have Vanessa at the same time?

You'll just have to see! My favorite characters that worked so well together was without a doubt Seth and Mike as Dr. Evil and Scott. They are just beyond hilarious and work so well together. I think a lot of the other Austin Powers fans would agree. There first scene together meeting is just really funny, "Give Daddy a hug! I'm down with the kids, ducka ducka ducka!" "No! Get away from me you psycho!". Classic! Like I said "Austin Powers" is just a great and funny movie that I think you can get into if you're looking for a decent comedy. Come on! We still say "Yeah, baby!" to this very day after all! Let's give Mike some credit here!

8/10

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11 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
groovy, 25 July 2006

Author: composer_mike from Edoass

-International Man of Mystery Austin Powers freezes himself when his nemesis Dr. Evil does the same so he can be ready to battle him once Dr. Evil resurfaces. Years later Dr. Evil gets back and so does Austin and whiles back the two learn that the world has changed from ransom demands that need to be more than 1 million to how bad teeth isn't sexy anymore.

-For my money the funniest scene in the movie is after Dr. Evil makes his demand to the UN and proceeds to laugh uncontrollably with his men. The think that kills me about that scene is the last 10 seconds when the laughter dies down and they all slowly stop which just cracks the hell out of me. I've seen that scene about a good 8 times so far and still makes me laugh whenever it gets to that scene. That humorous slant on evil doing is spread throughout the whole movie as everything that we see in the Bond movies has been turned into comedy. From the hair on Connery's chest to the weird gadgets that seem to have the magical capabilities to help out in every situation. There's also the banter between the good guy and the bad guy, the extreme close up before the bad guy makes his ransom and of course the hot chick that the hero gets at the end of the movie. They almost pretty much cover all the stereotypes in the Spy Genre and even add in their own unique twist like Dr. Evil's son just being a regular guy that thinks it's better to just shoot Powers than waste time and money devising plans to destroy him.

-I think I'm probably one of the few people on the planet that hasn't seen "Wayne's Word", I've had several chances to see it on TV but always passed it up on the count that I'm not a huge fan of Myers or anyone that comes out of the SNL camp but if they are as funny as this movie then it's best that I give it a try. An actor playing multiple roles isn't brand new since Eddie Murphy did it so well in "The Nutty Professor" movies. Myers plays the two main characters Austin and Dr Evil. As Austin he's a James Bond type figure that was adored by women during his time despite having bad teeth and being hairier than Eli Roth. He's like the goofier less attractive cousin of James Bond and whiles he maybe a sex freak he still respects women and treats them with dignity. As Dr. Evil he's just a play on all the villain stereotypes which includes stroking a cat and laughing maniacally when he does something bad. He's not really an evil person but more like a huge a**hole, kinda like Cillian Murphy's portrayal of Scarecrow from "Batman Begins".

-My Favorite character in the movie is the Seth Green character simply for the fact that he's the most sensible person in the movie. Whiles his dad is coming up with pointless plans that will fail he's just busy watching porn or coming up with better ways to kill Powers like just shoot him which is what every normal human would do. Plus the fact that he looks nothing like his dad is hilarious too, his dad is bald and freaky looking where as he is the typical American youth. Liz Hurley is okay in the movie but you never really pay much attention. Michael York is also in the movie and whiles not being in the movie for a whole bunch the small bits that he has are pretty funny.

-those that abhor satirical humor will hate the movie but any normal person with the least bit of humor should find some fun out of the movie

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the greatest 90s comedies, 9 June 2003
Author: knightadiaz (knightadiaz@aol.com) from LA, California

This is right up there with The Big Lebowski. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is actually funny, unlike its sequels. Its an excellent parody of the James Bond films, while adding an additional theme of the free love of the '60s, and how it would be received in the '90s. Its sweet, from the "Thats not a woman, that's a man, man", to "That looks just like Uranus". The soundtrack is sweet, the acting is superb, and that just translates into a masterpiece. What a work of art. I have never seen such a good comedy since "The Big Lebowski", but this is better.

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13 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Dirty, funny spoof if you're in the mood, 3 July 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

In the 1960's Austin Powers is one of the UK's best secret agents. He works as an international playboy who also fights international terrorists. However when Dr Evil tries fails to kill him, Dr Evil escapes into space where he is frozen until a time when he can return. Austin Powers also freezes himself to be defrosted later. In the late 90's Dr Evil returns to wreck havoc on the world and only a defrosted Powers can stop him – if he can adapt to the new world order. Mike Myers is very much an acquired taste but he did seem to hit it big with this series of films. The original film set the tone with not very basic jokes but certainly plenty of crude ones. The main film is split between a fish out of water film, with Austin trying to come to terms with the 90's, and also a James Bond spoof with Dr Evil as a more frustrated Bond baddie (complete with cat and bald head). The fish out of water stuff works well as Austin is a funny swinger and the 60's stuff is cool, however the best bits for me all relate to Dr Evil – whether it be his relationship with his son or the asides where the see the consequences of the death of his henchmen. The spoof on Bond movies gets the best laughs from me. Myers is good in both roles and clearly has fun with both. Hurley is OK but a bit wooden as Vanessa while Robert Wagner is good as number one. Michael York (whoooooo?) is good as control and there are some good cameos – Rob Lowe is funny but I still don't understand why the whole Christian Slater bit was put in the final cut?! Overall it may be rude and slightly crude in places but there's still plenty to enjoy. It's 90 minutes long but it's very funny and rushes by. You may not remember much of the plot but at least you go away chuckling.

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