There’s something very British about James Bond. It’s a franchise which has captured the heart of many throughout the nation, and across the world, with its stereotypical portrayal of many clichéd and archaic elements of London society. Whilst this has changed, somewhat, with the Daniel Craig era, there’s still much which remains the same. It’s ripe material for parody, as was so brilliantly done by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry in the Get Smart TV series. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery covers similar territory.
In the swinging sixties, Austin Powers (Mike Myers) is a fashion photographer by day and a secret agent by night. After besting his nemesis, Dr. Evil, who escapes cryogenically freezes himself, our hero volunteers to do the same to safeguard against his return. Thirty years later, (Dr.) Evil awakes and steals a nuclear weapon, which he uses to hold the world to ransom. With the help of another agent, Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), Austin must thwart his deadly plan; while coming to terms with the modern world.
Whilst it might not have the same impact as it did on initial release, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery remains an intelligent, well-written and clever spoof. Whilst the heavy lifting might fall on Myers, Jay Roach’s film is elevated by a series of great supporting performances. The likes of Michael York, Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner and Mimi Rogers add a touch of class to proceedings. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is an amusing and irreverential spin on the secret agent sub-genre.
Blu-ray special features:
- Austin & Vanessa Character Featurette
- B-Roll
- TV Spots and Clips
- Character Soundbites
- Ming Tea “BBC” Music Video
The collector’s edition of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on 19 April.
