Austin Powers
One Groovy Spy Movie, Baby!

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is the latest offering from the strange comedy mind of Mike Myers. Best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, Myers has brought his quirky style to the movies once again with a film that spoofs the '60s generation.

Austin Powers (Myers) is England's top secret agent of the 1960s. His arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil (also played by Myers), escapes justice by freezing himself cryogenically to survive until the future. Powers volunteers to be likewise frozen -- only to be thawed in 1997, a time in which this swinging secret agent finds himself lost.

Although Myers never passes up an opportunity for rude, sophomoric humor, the script rises above such dumb gags. (I will admit, the bathroom scene with Tom Arnold made me laugh in spite of myself.) The best moments of the film are those in which the characters break out of their stereotypical roles and act like "normal" human beings.

In fact, some of the biggest laughs are for Dr. Evil who (like Powers) finds himself to be a man out-of-time. Dr. Evil becomes a sympathetic character as he faces issues he could never have imagined. His right hand man Number Two (Robert Wagner) is more interested in his legitimate corporation than taking over the world. His rebellious son, Scott, doesn't understand him. The scenes in which Dr. Evil and Scott attempt to bond are some of the funniest in the film.

Of course, like any good spy movie Austin Powers also has its share of beautiful but dangerous women. Powers' partner is Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), the daughter of his former partner Mrs. Kensington (Mimi Rogers) in the 1960s. Vanessa is not the sex kitten he thinks, and easily fends off his '60s sexual advances.

Although on the surface it is a spy movie, Austin Powers brashly pokes fun at the free love and psychedelic era of the '60s. If you grew up with Laugh In, vinyl records, and Nancy Sinatra, there will be more than a few laughs for you.

Austin Powers is not a movie that caters to a wide-audience. Those easily offended by crude jokes or sexually suggestive scenes should consider something else. Needless to say, this is not one for the kids.

MY RATING: 5 out of 10.

RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 87 min.