Mike Myers stars in this totally groovy comedy, which he has also co-written. Following the traces of his idol Peter Sellers, Myers delivers a double performance as both the hero and the villain of the film. He’s Austin Danger Powers, a hip photographer who moonlights as an British secret agent. But mostly, he’s a swinging fella who loves to shag and party. Myers sure was cool in those Wayne’s World movies, but here, he creates a character that has got to become legendary, with his bad teeth, his funky outfits, his overwhelming libido and his countless one-liners. Myers is as fun as Powers’ nemesis, Dr Evil, or the ultimate James Bond bad guy. Bald and scarfaced, he crafts schemes to take over the world while petting his cat, Mr Bigglesworth.
The film starts as the two enemies confront each other in Las Vegas, in the late sixties. But Dr Evil escapes by freezing himself and being shot into outerspace. Powers asks his superiors to freeze him too until Evil comes back, so he can stop him once and for all. 1997. Dr Evil is finally back in business, and he’s decided to rule the world. His crew steals a nuclear head and they ask the United nations for a ransom of 100 billion dollars! That’s when Austin is brought back to life to take care of the situation. The thing is, the world changed a lot in 30 years. Being so horny and groovy ain’t so usual nowadays, so Powers will have to adapt. He’s teamed up with Vanessa, a sexy agent who’s in charge of keeping him in tracks. Dr Evil also has allies, such as Number Two and his broad, the sultry Alotta Fagina. Powers’ mission takes him from casinos to Evil’s secret headquarters, in the pure tradition of all those 60s espionage movies.
This film is more than just a James Bond spoof. It stands on its own as a witty and hysterically funny comedy. The characters are highly enjoyable and the dialogue is delightfully corny. Myers is supported by a great cast. The babelicious Elizabeth Hurley plays Austin’s sidekick, and Seth Green is hilarious as Evil’s son. Scott is a typical 90s teenager who doesn’t give a darn about world domination, so his relation with his dad is pretty rocky. Mimi Rogers, Tom Arnold and SNL’s Will Ferell also have cameos. The picture is surprisingly well directed by newcomer Jay Roach. His visual style is awesome and every scene is dynamic. The film is always flashy and colorful. The music is as cool as it gets. It all adds up to one of the most refreshing, ambitious and hilarious comedies I’ve ever seen.