"Name? Austin Danger Powers. Sex? Yes please!"

Those damned Seabass were mighty hungry weren't they?

Anyway it has been awhile since I've seen this one and since I am slowly watching my way through all the 007 films again, I thought it would be a great time to see if I can still get a laugh out of Austin Powers. The answer to that is a simple yes.

Some of the jokes are lame, but for the most part to me, it is still damn entertaining. The first installment, International Man of Mystery is a great introduction to the kind of humor these films have. Some things are dragged out, some are misses but most of the jokes are great in my book.

Loved the interactions between Dr. Evil and Scott, show stealer in only one scene is Will Ferrell as Mustafa. The scene he gets burned is still epic. Can't stop laughin at that one. Alotta Fagina. The theme song. 1 MILLION DOLLARS. Judo Chop! And Random Task, who can forget him!

Might be a bit nostalgia, might be because I'm into James Bond movies at the moment but the first Austin Powers is still a fun comedy these days!

**It's a reference film, although it's not exactly my cup of tea.**

Well, first of all, I have to acknowledge the impact and popularity of this film, not just at the time it came out, but even today. It was one of the great successes of the time (except for the United Kingdom, shaken by the death of Diana Spencer, and where the film only later, on physical support, came to gain popularity). It is one of the most popular comedies of the late 20th century and was instrumental in consolidating and expanding Mike Myers' career. However, I don't think it's exactly… my cup of tea. And I will explain why.

The script is, basically, a parody of the James Bond films… Austin Powers is a flamboyant and liberal spy who is described as the man all women want and all men want to copy. This is hilarious because the character is ugly, kitschy and has the manners of a deeply misogynistic sexual pervert. Nothing against it, I'm not a fan of political correctness. What really bothers me about this movie is the total absence of funny jokes and the emphasis on the sex theme. Almost all jokes have a sexual connotation, and this proved not only ineffective but tiresome.

The plot is simple: in the Sixties, Powers fails in his attempt to neutralize his greatest enemy, Dr. Evil, when he escapes and freezes himself in a cryogenic capsule. In order not to be left behind, the spy offers to go through it, being frozen until the day his enemy returns, which happens in the late 90's. From here, a whole sub-plot is generated in which both characters, in their own way, will have to adapt to the new period as they prepare for the final confrontation.

Myers is the driving force of the entire film, taking on the skin of two of the important characters: the hero and the villain. This is not something new in cinema and has already been carried out by Peter Sellers and Alec Guinness, two references that Myers took into account in his work. And even though I didn't really like the film, it wouldn't be right of me if I refrained from praising this actor, and his ability and commitment. Elizabeth Hurley played a spy, daughter of a former colleague of the protagonist, being the "Powers-Girl" in this film. She is good enough for the task and does a pleasant job.

Technically, the film does what it needs. A regular cinematography with good colors and sharpness, a very pleasant rhythm and no dead moments. I liked the props and the sets, especially Powers' car (a classic Jaguar). His costume, clearly inspired by 18th century clothing, also seemed creative and original to me, although I have some difficulty in finding any credible basis for this option in the fashions and aesthetics of the 60s. Finally, a note of praise for the very good soundtrack and, in particular, for the lively dance sequence that accompanies the opening credits.

We’ve been trying pepper the James Bond marathon with some faintly relevant films, and realised it’d been years since we last saw Austin Powers. Not since it came out, in fact.

Mike Myers stars as the hero Austin Powers, a 1960s super spy, frozen in time and in defrosted in 1997 to confront his nemesis, Dr. Evil.

This is perhaps the most well-known spy-spoof out there, and it’s hard to look at it with fresh eyes. It parodies famous Bond tropes but in doing so manages to be one of the most original comedies of the last 20 years.

Its catchphrases and quirks have become so ingrained in pop culture that people quote this film without realising.

There’s a couple of bits I’d forgotten about that got a laugh from me:

- Will Ferrell’s hilarious turn as a guy who gets dropped into a fiery pit but won’t quite die. We hear his screams as Dr. Evil tries to conduct a board meeting.
= The fact that the Evil empire is doing better at legitimate business than as a criminal enterprise.

So much of the dialogue compares the 60s to the 90s that one can’t help but compare the 90s to now. That doesn’t exactly make Austin Powers a timeless classic but the jokes are largely still amusing.

If you like broad humour paired with subtle references, Austin Powers may just be for you.

Perhaps not as funny as in ‘97 but still good for a laugh and Liz Hurley in a catsuit doesn’t hurt anyone.

http://benoliver999.com/film/2015/07/26/austinpowersinternationalmanofmystery/