The first Austin Powers movie debuted in 1997 titled Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The spoof spy movie became a cult classic and one of Mike Myers's most recognized works on the big screen. This was followed by two sequels that were equally as popular.
Austin Powers is a secret agent and sex symbol, whose main objective is to foil any plan by his arch-nemesis, Dr.Evil (Myers). The movies all included some top-notch comedic scenes and jokes that still garner laughs today. But as times have changed, not all audiences will find aspects of the movie "solid gold."
Good: Multiple Roles Played By Myers
Back in 1997 and with the movie's sequels, fans might not have noticed just how many roles Myers played besides Austin Powers. A huge concept of the movies was that Myers played many of the franchise's main villains, and he was the notorious villain, Dr. Evil, who was known for his devious plans and habit of holding his pinky finger up to his mouth.
But that wasn't all. Myers also played Goldmember in Austin Powers in Goldmember, a roller disco club owner who becomes allies with Dr.Evil, and fans can't forget the Scottish behemoth, Fat Bastard, also played by Myers.
Hasn't Aged Well: Austin's Portrayal Of Brits
Seeing as the movie is meant to be a spoof, Austin Powers' overall character image was exaggerated. He's a proud Brit working as a secret agent, and there are many scenes where the movie features the British flag on Austin's car, outfits, and more. But Austin's character is also notorious for having ugly, stained teeth.
Yellow or stained teeth are a common misconception or stereotype about Brits based on their consumption of tea. The movie exaggerated it for the character and created an odd dynamic, as Austin was still seen as a sex symbol. In the second installment, the female lead character even makes a remark about Austin's teeth.
Good: Fourth Wall Breaks
Many spoofs or comedy movies are known for their fourth wall breaks - a scene or moment in which the main character acknowledges their audience. Austin does this quite a bit throughout the movies. He even has a big dance number in the intro of the third movie where he addresses the audience and introduces them to Quincy Jones and talks to Steven Spielberg.
On random occasions in the movies, Austin will look directly at the audience, acknowledging that they're watching the same scene unfold. In the third installment, Austin is talking to a Japanese CEO and is reading the same subtitles that the audience is on screen.
Hasn't Aged Well: Mini-Me Character
Dr.Evil is well known for having a sidekick known as Mini-Me (Verne Troyer), genetically created while Dr.Evil was away using his DNA. But fans today might not take lightly the portrayal of the character on screen, which wasn't a particularly positive representation of people with dwarfism. Introduced in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Mini-Me is seen as an inept character who can't speak and has a rather unhinged personality.
Seeing as Mini-Me has a habit of getting out of control, Dr.Evil even has him leashed on occasion and carries him in a baby carrier, in what are some awkward and offensive scenes today.
Good: A Classic Spy Storyline ... But More Comical
What made the movie franchise so popular was that it still had the trappings of a good spy movie. It had all the needed action, the espionage, a villain wanting to destroy the world, and surprising twists. In fact, the movie relied heavily on nods to classic movies in the spy genre, especially the James Bond films. The rivalry between Austin Powers and Dr. Evil (based primarily on Bond's Ernst Stavro Blofeld) is fondly remembered as one of the best.
Austin works for British intelligence and is often given cool and sleek cars, like James Bond, and even travels back in time to stop Goldmember and Dr. Evil. Fans can't forget that Dr. Evil even has a cool lair, henchmen, and devious plans. The franchise even had a good backstory to explain who Dr. Evil really is.
Hasn't Aged Well: Austin's Sexual Advances
Austin Powers is meant to portray the ultimate sex symbol, just like James Bond. But the movies took this to another level that some might now consider too much. Austin believes that he oozes sexual attraction to the point where no woman can resist him.
In the first installment, Vanessa (Elizabeth Hurley) wants no part of Austin's sexual escapades and refuses his advances. Austin isn't one to give up and tries extremely hard to get her to want him. While on the jet, he tries to entice her onto a moving bed with flashing lights and says his classic line, "Do I make you horny, baby?" Vanessa becomes angry and sets the record straight that Austin can't fathom a woman who doesn't want him.
Good: Austin's Sensitive Backstory
Austin Powers broke the mold of the suave and cool spy by having emotional issues and sensitivity. He's always put together, well dressed, and acts cool, but in reality, Austin isn't James Bond. Fans learn that Austin has always tried to win his father's affection ever since he was younger.
When being knighted by the Queen, Austin is made a fool by the public because his father refused to show up. Later on, Austin blows up at his father, stating that his father was never proud of his work. Beyond his attempts at sexual appeal, he admits that he longs to find the perfect woman to spend the rest of his life with.
Hasn't Aged Well: Sexualized Female Characters
In every movie installment, Austin is aided by a female counterpart and spy. In the first movie, Vanessa is a well-regarded spy who dresses conservatively, but Austin finds her style drab and boring until she slips into a metallic dress. The biggest example of the movies sexualizing the female character was in the second installment from 1997.
Felicity (Heather Graham) and Austin are trapped in a room of lava and have to make a getaway. In order to do so, Felicity temps the guard with her breasts. She also sleeps with Fat Bastard in order to plant a tracking device in his rectum. While again, the female characters in the movie are largely meant to parody Bond girls, the movies sometimes go too far and have not aged well in this regard.
Good: Pop Culture References
Spy movie fans will also recognize the many spoof jokes in the movie, the biggest one being Dr. Evil, who has many of the same characteristics as Blofeld from the iconic James Bond movies. Austin's famed hairy chest is a nod to Sean Connery's James Bond portrayal.
In the first movie, there's also a spoof on the famous henchmen, Oddjob. Instead, the character is called Random Task, and he throws a shoe instead of a hat. The movie also has golden moments of comedy, like Austin taking the world's longest bathroom break after being defrosted. Fans can't forget "the mole" discussion in Goldmember. Goldmember is clearly meant to portray the Bond villain, Goldfinger. The first movie even had a reference to the Death Star from Star Wars.
Hasn't Ages Well: Austin's Pick-Up Lines
Austin's pick-up lines worked back in the day (or did they?) but not so much now. His lines were often sexual puns and may have been comical to hear in the movies, but they would be highly ineffective in real life.
It's hard to imagine how Austin was even able to charm a woman with such lines as, "Do you work at the post office? I thought I saw you checking out my package." Cheesy, sexually aggressive pick-up lines never work and in 2021, they're seen as downright offensive.