Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

A 1960s hipster secret agent is brought out of cryofreeze to oppose his greatest enemy in the 1990s, where his social attitudes are glaringly out of place.

Director:

Jay Roach

Writer:

Mike Myers

Stars:

Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mike Myers	...	Austin Powers / Dr. Evil
Elizabeth Hurley	...	Vanessa Kensington
Michael York	...	Basil Exposition
Mimi Rogers	...	Mrs. Kensington
Robert Wagner	...	Number Two
Seth Green	...	Scott Evil
Fabiana Udenio	...	Alotta Fagina
Mindy Sterling	...	Frau Farbissina
Paul Dillon	...	Patty O'Brien
Charles Napier	...	Cmdr. Gilmour
Will Ferrell	...	Mustafa
Joann Richter	...	'60s Model
Anastasia Sakelaris	...	'60s Model (as Anastasia Nicole Sakelaris)
Afifi Alaouie	...	'60s Model
Monet Mazur	...	Mod Girl

Storyline

Austin Powers is a 60's spy who is cryonically frozen and released in the 1990's. The world is a very different place for Powers. Unfortunately for Austin, everyone is no longer sex-mad. Although he may be in a different decade, his mission is still the same. He has teamed up with Vanessa Kensington to stop the evil Dr. Evil, who was also frozen in the past. Dr. Evil stole a nuclear weapon and is demanding a payment of (when he realises its the 90's) 100 billion dollars. Can Austin Powers stop this madman? or will he caught up with Evil's henchman, with names like Alotta Fagina and Random Task? Only time will tell!

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Plot Keywords:

agent | 1990s | spy | secret agent | 1960s | 

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Taglines:

Debonair. Defiant. Defrosted.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for nudity, sex-related dialogue and humor

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Austin Powers

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$9,548,111 (USA) (2 May 1997)

Gross:

$53,868,030 (USA) (26 September 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capella International, Eric's Boy, Juno Pix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 68 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frau Farbissina's name comes from the Yiddish word farbissen, which is usually used in conjunction with punim, meaning "face." Farbissen punim describes a "dour, pinched, or forbidding face." It may also be related to the German word "verbissen" meaning "uptight" and "grim" which largely describes Farbissina's character.

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Goofs

Numerous military individuals' uniforms nametags give their rank and then their last name. Military nametags like this ONLY contain the last name, not the rank - as there are other symbols on their uniform representing rank.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Evil: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my underground lair. I have gathered here before me the world's deadliest assassins, and yet each of you has failed to kill Austin Powers. That makes me angry. And when Dr. Evil gets angry, Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset... people DIE!

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Crazy Credits

The song "Meow Mix - What's Next?" is credited, Performed by Dr. Evil.

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Connections

References The Bionic Woman (1976)

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Soundtracks

"The Look of Love"
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Performed by Susanna Hoffs
Courtesy of London Records

User Reviews

Dirty, funny spoof if you're in the mood

In the 1960's Austin Powers is one of the UK's best secret agents. He works as an international playboy who also fights international terrorists. However when Dr Evil tries fails to kill him, Dr Evil escapes into space where he is frozen until a time when he can return. Austin Powers also freezes himself to be defrosted later. In the late 90's Dr Evil returns to wreck havoc on the world and only a defrosted Powers can stop him – if he can adapt to the new world order. Mike Myers is very much an acquired taste but he did seem to hit it big with this series of films. The original film set the tone with not very basic jokes but certainly plenty of crude ones. The main film is split between a fish out of water film, with Austin trying to come to terms with the 90's, and also a James Bond spoof with Dr Evil as a more frustrated Bond baddie (complete with cat and bald head). The fish out of water stuff works well as Austin is a funny swinger and the 60's stuff is cool, however the best bits for me all relate to Dr Evil – whether it be his relationship with his son or the asides where the see the consequences of the death of his henchmen. The spoof on Bond movies gets the best laughs from me. Myers is good in both roles and clearly has fun with both. Hurley is OK but a bit wooden as Vanessa while Robert Wagner is good as number one. Michael York (whoooooo?) is good as control and there are some good cameos – Rob Lowe is funny but I still don't understand why the whole Christian Slater bit was put in the final cut?! Overall it may be rude and slightly crude in places but there's still plenty to enjoy. It's 90 minutes long but it's very funny and rushes by. You may not remember much of the plot but at least you go away chuckling.