Austin Powers is a character and movie series from the late 90s and early 2000s. He was introduced in the 1997 comedy “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” followed by the 1999 sequel “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and the final movie in 2002, “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
Although the Austin Powers movies were made in the U.S., the title character is an Englishman portrayed by Mike Myers, a Canadian. Myers got his start at the famous Second City Theatre in Chicago and later joined Saturday Night Live as a regular cast member for several years. His film debut came in 1992 with “Wayne’s World,” and after starring in 1993’s “So I Married an Axe Murderer” and “Wayne’s World 2,” his next movie was 1997’s “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” In addition to playing the lead character, he also played the main villain, Dr. Evil, as well as other minor characters.
Austin Powers himself is a spy and sexual deviant who awakes (along with Dr. Evil) in the 90s after 30 years of being cryogenically frozen. He still has the style and culture of the 60s, and the films make the clash between his culture and the modern day comedically apparent. Although he’s a ladies man and is constantly coming on to women, he is fairly unattractive with bad teeth, large glasses, and a small frame.
The films are a parody of typical spy films and involve the conflict between Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, who is a criminal mastermind and extortionist. The idea for the character came from Mike Myers himself, who thought of an exaggerated swinger portrayal of a James Bond-type character. In the movies, Powers gets involved with stopping a series of evil schemes while always trying his luck with women.
Austin Powers Quotes
- No, no, no. Danger’s my middle name.
- I’m a master debater.
- I’ve lost my mojo!
- I put the GA in swingababy!
- You’re switched on! You’re a bit of alright!
- Sex: Yes please.
- Oh, behave.
- Do I make you horny?
Featured image via entertainment.msn.co.nz