It had been a while since I had watched Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, so it felt I was almost watching it for the first time. However, I did remember that this was a film full of lame and silly gags, so it’s not like I had high expectations! (Also, interestingly I did not know that Demi Moore was one of the producers of this film.)
The plot centres on Austin Powers, a 1960s agent, who is brought back to life about 30 years after being frozen in order to help defeat Dr Evil, who plans to rule the world. It’s pretty much along the lines of the typical comedy flick − it feels like the plot revolves around the jokes rather than the other way around, and so they aren’t there to drive the storyline in any way. One of my favourites scenes is the random glimpse at the consequences of the death of a seemingly unimportant character in the steam-roller scene.
The plot centres on Austin Powers, a 1960s agent, who is brought back to life about 30 years after being frozen in order to help defeat Dr Evil, who plans to rule the world. It’s pretty much along the lines of the typical comedy flick − it feels like the plot revolves around the jokes rather than the other way around, and so they aren’t there to drive the storyline in any way. One of my favourites scenes is the random glimpse at the consequences of the death of a seemingly unimportant character in the steam-roller scene.
The film is clearly influenced by the James Bond franchise. For instance, you have the slightly over-the-top and often futuristic plots that are about world domination, an attractive female sidekick (who often is more helpful in the mission than the male agent) and this attitude towards women as being objects to stare at and sleep with (with ridiculous names like Allota Fagina and Pussy Galore). It doesn’t take long for Vanessa (played by Elizabeth Hurley) to become seduced by Austin Powers, even though she seemed very reluctant and repelled by him at the beginning. Also, surprisingly they get married − I remember also being surprised when the womanising James Bond also gets married. I guess one big difference between Austin and Bond is the looks: Austin Powers relies more on ‘charisma’, than on his appearance, to enchant the ladies… but it’s still more about lust than any substance or personality.
But as well as being a decent light-hearted source of entertainment when you are in the mood for silly humour, the Austin Powers films are quite self-aware. By this I mean, the film doesn’t aim to be better than it is and in this way it fulfils what it sets out to do. Near the end of the film, for example, when Dr Evil has captured Austin and Vanessa and his son wants to shoot them, Dr Evil says he is looking them out of sight, “assuming all will go to plan” − thus, making fun of the way villains in films can be quite naïve at times. It also shows he’s not all that cold-blooded, so you do feel a little bit of sympathy for him too. Luckily, (unlike most action films), although his evil plan is foiled, Dr Evil ends up escaping − making way for the next instalment of this bizarre yet amusing series of Austin Powers films.
But as well as being a decent light-hearted source of entertainment when you are in the mood for silly humour, the Austin Powers films are quite self-aware. By this I mean, the film doesn’t aim to be better than it is and in this way it fulfils what it sets out to do. Near the end of the film, for example, when Dr Evil has captured Austin and Vanessa and his son wants to shoot them, Dr Evil says he is looking them out of sight, “assuming all will go to plan” − thus, making fun of the way villains in films can be quite naïve at times. It also shows he’s not all that cold-blooded, so you do feel a little bit of sympathy for him too. Luckily, (unlike most action films), although his evil plan is foiled, Dr Evil ends up escaping − making way for the next instalment of this bizarre yet amusing series of Austin Powers films.
3.5/5
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