Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (PG-13, 1997)

common sense media says

This shagadelic James Bond spoof isn't for kids.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is a near constant barrage of sexual innuendo in this James Bond spoof. Parents may find the vulgar laughs and sight gags inappropriate for 'tweens, but 13-year-old and older kids will probably laugh all the way through it.

Positive messages: As with the Bond movies, the women are objects of conquest with silly names. Dr. Evil's teenage son is unpleasantly eager to go get his gun and shoot Powers.
Violence: Cartoonish violence.
Sex: Near constant sexual innuendo. Lengthy scenes involving full-body nudity with all of the naughty bits "cleverly" concealed. Several scenes involve a device used to enhance a male body part.
Language: Lots of sexually themed innuendo and silly, crass euphemisms
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Swinging 60s involves references to drinking and drugs.

More on Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about media portrayals of women and how the young women in their family view themselves. How do they balance the pressure from society to be sexy with their own desires to be a well-rounded person? Do they like the way Vanessa Kensington handles herself in the face of Austin's constant come-ons? How would they handle themselves? Families may also want to discuss with their teenagers the two approaches to sex the film presents: free love 1960s-style vs. the more uptight 1990s. Which style would teens choose today, and what are the consequences of each? Families may want to discuss the importance of abstinence or safe sex, depending on their moral beliefs.

What's the story?

What's the story?

The insidious Dr. Evil foils his swinging British adversary Austin Powers (Mike Myers in a dual role) by escaping the in a spaceship and having himself cryogenically frozen. Powers does what one would expect of the world's greatest -- and most shagadelic -- gentleman spy: He has himself frozen as well, to be thawed out thirty years later, in 1997, and pick up the chase where it left off. A relic of the swinging '60s, Powers is thawed out in the age of AIDS to stop Dr. Evil from destroying the world. With sexy agent Miss Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley) at his side, Powers acclimates to a world without free love while attempting to thwart Dr. Evil, who has stolen a nuclear warhead and is holding the world ransom for ... one hundred billion dollars!

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

If you're looking for wry humor and sophistication, you're simply looking in the wrong place. AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (followed by the 1999's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and 2002's Austin Powers in Goldmember) is the sort of comedy you expect from ex-Saturday Night Live cast members (on the level of Dana Carvey's Opportunity Knocks).

Anyone who's seen Goldfinger will recognize the crony Oddjob parodied here as Random Task, or Alotta Fagina substituting for the Bond vixen Pussy Galore. The Dr. Evil character, complete with bald head and hairless cat, are snitched from the opening of For Your Eyes Only. If your tastes generally run a bit more highfalutin than this, find a teenager of your own to supply the laugh track; it completes the experience, and might even make it a worthwhile one.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Jay Roach
Cast: Elizabeth Hurley, Mike Myers, Seth Green
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: May 2, 1997
DVD release: September 14, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sexual content

This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

EPILOGUE
teen, 17 years old
 
Hahaa, one of the first movies I ever saw. Of course I love it.
Austin truly is one of my favorites.

angelostar
kid, 12 years old
 
hilarious
great movie completly hilarious

cowe192
teen, 16 years old
 
Dr evil kills a lot of people Man gets head eaten off Guy gets run over by steamroller

 
I thought it was "shagadelic"
It was a hilarious teen to adult comedy. there were some sexual jokes, and stupid ment to be corny looking violence but it was fine. I would say that kids around 11 up should have the priveledge to see it.

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
very funny,very sexual

islandgal
teen, 16 years old
 
hilarious
austin powers is a very funny movie.

Quartz
kid, 12 years old
 
Very, quite weird. =D
Ehh

golden retriever7
kid, 12 years old
 
Best Movie!
I've seen all of the Austin Powers but by far this one's funnier.It does have nudity but they were coverd up by other objects witch made me laugh harder.I love Mike Myers!

erraggarn98
kid, 13 years old
 
Really Good
Very funny, recommended for teens 15 and over

CatLover71
teen, 13 years old
 
AWESOME FILM, RATING TOO HIGH
This film is ridiculously hilarious. It has a 15 rating, but it should be a 12 (a low PG-13 in the USA). Any child under 11 wouldn't understand half of it.

mnewby97
teen, 14 years old
 

Xeli
teen, 16 years old
 
Funny.
This movie is really funny. I wouldnt recomend it for kids ten and under, but its not that innapropriate, and its REALLY FUNNY. I wasnt disturbed at all by the content.

Ms. Understood
kid, 13 years old
 
A great movie
I saw it when I was 4 and loved it... wouldn't have recomended it to other 4-year-olds... It was funny and adorable the whole way through... I have it set on 12 because that usually when "Family Living" class takes place so kids would beable to understan it and laugh to help them feel comfortable about the topic of sex.

CSM Screen ...
teen, 16 years old
 
My brain cells popped out
My brain cells popped out watching this movie it had sex issues but it was funny watch all of them

Gameaddict
teen, 14 years old
 
HILARIOUS
Worst parts are proboly the guy being burned alive(that was this one right) or being eaten by the phirahna thats about it GOOD MOVIE

rose56967
kid, 12 years old
 
BE CAREFUL
I thought the movie was funny, but for little kids, it's way BAD!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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