Movies

Film Review: Austin Powers – International Man of Mystery

9 October 2015

By James

Intelligence work has never seemed so glamorous.

When cryogenically-frozen sixties spy Austin ‘Danger’ Powers (Mike Myers) is defrosted in the nineties to face his nemesis, Doctor Evil (also Myers), he finds that his values of free love and his use of mind-expanding drugs are hopelessly out of touch in the modern world. Teaming up with his former partner’s daughter, Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), Powers eventually manages to defeat Doctor Evil, but the deranged stereotype villain manages to freeze himself again and escape into space to await another encounter.

As soon as we see Austin pursued by screaming girls down Carnaby Street in a musical sequence complete with cartwheeling policemen, we know this will be a show to remember. Unceremoniously spoofing John le Carré, James Bond and everything in between, Myers puts in two hilarious performances as Powers and the scarred, bald, petty Doctor Evil. Even a stout Korean assassin, Random Task, is on hand – only he throws plain old shoes instead of bowler-hats.

 

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