Ah, America Online, those were the days!
Written By: Mike Myers
Directed By: Jay Roach
Every once in a while I come across a comedy that knows how to revel in its cheesy nature. Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery definitely knows how to revel in its cheesiness. I find the entire spy genre to be rather cheesy all by itself, and Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery manages to make fun of all the elements that I find to be cheesy. This is a movie that is ridiculous and wants you to go along for a ridiculous ride.
Unfortunately there are moments in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery where it wants to be serious and go for some kind of emotional honesty. Each and every time it does that the movie grinds to a halt. Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery is a comedy, a ludicrous one at that, I don’t need lessons learned about life or moments that are trying for emotional depth. I don’t mind the relationship, that was cheesy and a complete spoof on the classic spy relationship. But, there are times when the movie tries to be more than a simple comedy, and it fails.
While the parts with Austin Powers himself are funny, the true comedy in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery comes from the character of Dr. Evil and his interactions with all those around him. He is a ridiculously funny character, whether he is berating his son Scott while at the same time yearning for Scott to love him or complaining about not having sharks with laser beams on their heads. I found myself laughing at Dr. Evil every time he was on the screen, to the point to where it was easily his movie and anything involving Austin Powers became secondary.
I’m sorry that I don’t have better reasoning to offer, but I like Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery because I found it funny. Some jokes and scenarios did fall flat or fail to score any laughter. But, I found myself laughing more than I wasn’t and that’s what I look for in my comedies. It’s not the best comedy you’ll ever find, but Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery is a funny one. And for all the MMA junkies out there, Joe Son, throwing his shoe!!!
Rating:
***
Cheers,
Bill
Bill's Movie Emporium 
I agree that Dr. Evil basically steals the show. In fact, I think he’s more entertaining than Austin Powers in all three films combined. Having said that, I do think the series loses some of its steam by the third entry.
It definitely does, but I still like the third entry. I happen to like number two more than the first, I’m not sure where most people fall on those films though.
Eh, I like the first two evenly I think. It’s really the third that falls flat at moments. I don’t think Goldmember is a very funny character.
‘I like gooollld!’
Ah, shut up already.
The third has its moments, but it very much the lesser of the three.