Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
Those who actually lived through the 1960s and watched movies like Our Man Flint and Casino Royale will have an extra appreciation for the Austin Powers trilogy, as it is a perfect blend of tribute and spoof. Mike Myers’s incredible talent is truly captured in these movies as he plays multiple characters and co-authors the screenplay that led a generation of ’90s kids to quote and imitate him. Some of the jokes aren’t considered politically correct by today’s standards, but I know there are plenty of people who will still laugh at them behind closed doors.
The first installment is such a treasure, as we see Austin’s take on the 1990s after being frozen for thirty years. From jokes about bad teeth and outdated phrases to spoofing the spy genre without coming across as a ridiculous college home movie, it’s no wonder International Man of Mystery was so successful it led to two sequels. Elizabeth Hurley is a perfect “Bond girl”, and it’s a nice touch for Michael York to lead Austin Powers through the change in decades, since himself lived through the decade everyone is making fun of. The collection of villains is hilarious and can be traced back to any number of films, even Carry On Spying. With Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling, Will Ferrell, Seth Green, Paul Dillon, and of course, Mike Myers, around the table, it’s the silliest group of bad guys. There are also some cute cameos from Clint Howard, Tom Arnold, Lois Chiles (who was a Bond girl back in 1979’s Moonraker), Burt Bacharach, Christian Slater, Rob Lowe, and Carrie Fischer. For a perfect retro-retro movie night, rent the three Austin Powers flicks. There are endless possibilities of drinking games; it’ll probably be your friends’ most memorable event of the year.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the “swingin’ sixties” scene transitions, the camera zooms in and out quickly, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
More Michael York movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Austin Powers in Goldmember here!
The first installment is such a treasure, as we see Austin’s take on the 1990s after being frozen for thirty years. From jokes about bad teeth and outdated phrases to spoofing the spy genre without coming across as a ridiculous college home movie, it’s no wonder International Man of Mystery was so successful it led to two sequels. Elizabeth Hurley is a perfect “Bond girl”, and it’s a nice touch for Michael York to lead Austin Powers through the change in decades, since himself lived through the decade everyone is making fun of. The collection of villains is hilarious and can be traced back to any number of films, even Carry On Spying. With Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling, Will Ferrell, Seth Green, Paul Dillon, and of course, Mike Myers, around the table, it’s the silliest group of bad guys. There are also some cute cameos from Clint Howard, Tom Arnold, Lois Chiles (who was a Bond girl back in 1979’s Moonraker), Burt Bacharach, Christian Slater, Rob Lowe, and Carrie Fischer. For a perfect retro-retro movie night, rent the three Austin Powers flicks. There are endless possibilities of drinking games; it’ll probably be your friends’ most memorable event of the year.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the “swingin’ sixties” scene transitions, the camera zooms in and out quickly, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
More Michael York movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Austin Powers in Goldmember here!