Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is the first film in the comic series featuring the outrageous 1960s spy played by the hilarious Mike Myers. Sporting the gaudiest mod attire—ruffled shirts, tight-fitting candy-colored suits, horn-rimmed glasses, and prosthetic teeth—Austin Powers is anything but subtle. His frequent exclamations of “Groovy, baby,” paired with his cheeky smile, amplify his exaggerated hipster persona. The plot follows Austin Powers and his nemesis, Dr. Evil (also played by Myers), as they awaken from 30 years of cryogenic sleep to find themselves in 1997. Dr. Evil’s outdated plans for terror and destruction clash with the modern world, while Austin similarly struggles to adapt. Despite his efforts, Austin and his stunning partner Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley) bumble their way through missions to stop Dr. Evil, taking them from London to Las Vegas.
This tongue-in-cheek parody of James Bond films and 1960s clichés is directed by Jay Roach, who enhances Myers’ over-the-top performance with a lighthearted soundtrack, fun photography, and amusingly retro sets.