Fellman's Movie Reviews

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a 1997 comedy written by and starring Mike Myers and directed by Jay Roach. It also stars Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling, Seth Green, and Mimi Rogers. This is the first movie in a three-part trilogy. It has two sequels: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Austin Powers in Goldmember. This film tells of how both Austin and his nemesis Dr. Evil get frozen in the 1960s and wind up in the 90s. Dr. Evil resumes with his plan to take over the world, and Austin returns to work for the British Ministry of Defense.  

It’s funny how I didn’t like this movie when I was younger. I thought it was too “parody-y”, if that makes sense. I thought that it wasn’t the same caliber of parody as Mel Brooks’ movies. But when I watched it later, I suddenly got it. It became funny for some reason. It wasn’t because it was too much of a parody that I didn’t like it. It was because it was a different KIND of parody. Austin Powers is puerile and cheeky with mature content. That’s what makes it funny. I’ll admit I didn’t quite get it when I was younger. But I find that now, it’s a much funnier movie.  

In fact, of the three, this is the best one. The other two movies are recycled gags and forced jokes that can hardly be called anything more than pandering. This is the only one that was original and had its own story going on. Which, I will give Mike Myers credit for. I’m not a big fan of Mike Myers. I’ve never given him a whole lot of credit for much. Anybody who’s ever seen “The Love Guru” should know what I’m talking about. But I will say that this is a character that cinema has appreciated since its inception. 

I’m also a big fan of the soundtrack of the movie. I’ve always been a big fan of 60s psychedelic music. Not so much the British kind, but that’s another story. Nonetheless, this movie has a whole lot of music in it that plays well with the whole 60s theme. There’s even some cuts between scenes where Austin is dancing with some people and there’s music playing. That’s always funny. And after the movie, in the credits, there’s a song by “Ming Tea”, a band put together by Myers during his SNL days, and they’re all in character and dressed up like a 60s band doing a song. It’s actually a pretty catchy song, too. I really like it. It’s about the BBC, (British Broadcasting Corporation).  

So, yeah. Go and see Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. I know it’s one of the better parodies that I know of now. Mel Brooks is still better. But he’s the best, what are you gonna do? This has a lot of great jokes. It’s very quotable. And you can watch it more than once and it stays funny. That’s how you know a movie is good. When you can watch it again, and it still makes you laugh. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice cup of tea with your comedy. And as always, keep on watching, with a smile on your face…