Post by Bret Walker on Sept 9, 2006 13:03:08 GMT -5
Occasionally a movie comes out that is so outrageously funny that it belongs in a category all by itself. This is one of those movies. This movie came out in 1997 to critical and public acclaim, and has successfully planted itself in the anals of history as one of the greatest comedies of all time.
Austin Powers is the brain child of Mike Myers, who has endured a fair amount of success and critical condemnation with his previous films, most notably So I Married An Axe Murderer, Wayne's World, and Wayne's World 2. While Axe Murderer was a sleeper, it was still a very funny movie. And Wayne's World is possibly one of the best Saturday-Night-Live-skit-turned-movies ever, alongside The Blues Brothers.
Austin Powers is that hip secret agent from 1967. Women want him and men want to be him. A swinger to the extreme, he becomes deadly serious when facing his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil (obviously modeled after James Bond's nemesis, Blofeld). Dr. Evil escapes Austin Powers in a Big Boy shaped rocket and is cryogenically frozen. Austin is then frozen in case Dr. Evil should ever return.
Dr. Evil does in fact return, and the year is now 1997. The British Ministry of Defense thaws out Austin Powers so that he can combat his foe once again. Austin is partnered with his previous partner's daughter, Vanessa Kensignton. While Dr. Evil struggles with his relationship with his test-tube son and plans on world domination, Austin struggles to adapt to the 90's while maintaining his swinging groove of the 60's.
The physical humor in this movie is outrageous. Some of the scenes that featured both Austin and Miss Kensington in the nude were so well choreographed that the audience was left in tears. Myers is brilliant as the swinging super agent, as well as the morose and pontificating Dr. Evil. The supporting cast is also excellent, with standout performances by Robert Wagner, Elizabeth Hurley, and Seth Green.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is one of those must-see movies. I have personally seen it once in the theater and countless times on video. TBS has recently been showing a very good "cut" version, with extra scenes that were removed and hosting by Frau Farbissina. If you haven't seen it yet, by all means get out of your house this minute and rent it. When a movie this good comes along, it simply cannot be passed up.
Austin Powers is the brain child of Mike Myers, who has endured a fair amount of success and critical condemnation with his previous films, most notably So I Married An Axe Murderer, Wayne's World, and Wayne's World 2. While Axe Murderer was a sleeper, it was still a very funny movie. And Wayne's World is possibly one of the best Saturday-Night-Live-skit-turned-movies ever, alongside The Blues Brothers.
Austin Powers is that hip secret agent from 1967. Women want him and men want to be him. A swinger to the extreme, he becomes deadly serious when facing his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil (obviously modeled after James Bond's nemesis, Blofeld). Dr. Evil escapes Austin Powers in a Big Boy shaped rocket and is cryogenically frozen. Austin is then frozen in case Dr. Evil should ever return.
Dr. Evil does in fact return, and the year is now 1997. The British Ministry of Defense thaws out Austin Powers so that he can combat his foe once again. Austin is partnered with his previous partner's daughter, Vanessa Kensignton. While Dr. Evil struggles with his relationship with his test-tube son and plans on world domination, Austin struggles to adapt to the 90's while maintaining his swinging groove of the 60's.
The physical humor in this movie is outrageous. Some of the scenes that featured both Austin and Miss Kensington in the nude were so well choreographed that the audience was left in tears. Myers is brilliant as the swinging super agent, as well as the morose and pontificating Dr. Evil. The supporting cast is also excellent, with standout performances by Robert Wagner, Elizabeth Hurley, and Seth Green.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is one of those must-see movies. I have personally seen it once in the theater and countless times on video. TBS has recently been showing a very good "cut" version, with extra scenes that were removed and hosting by Frau Farbissina. If you haven't seen it yet, by all means get out of your house this minute and rent it. When a movie this good comes along, it simply cannot be passed up.
