Austin Powers
Encyclopedia
Sir Augustine Danger Powers, KBE
, is a fictional character
from the Austin Powers series of films. He first appeared in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
(1997) and is portrayed by Mike Myers
.
, Austin Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London
, with his constant advocacy for free love
—defending this attitude in an argument with Doctor Evil by arguing that they were rebelling against authority figures like Doctor Evil and the movement would have used less drugs if they had been aware of the long-term consequences—his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style (including crushed velvet suits and Beatle boots
). With his flamboyant ways and never-changing dress-sense, he is deliberately made to stick out from his surroundings; though, he invariably escapes detection when disguised, particularly when he talks about things that would have had no place in the 1990s. Despite this, he displays an intense devotion to his work; after being thawed out from cryogenic freezing and informed that Dr. Evil is on the loose, he immediately asks "When do I begin?"
In the many instances he takes off his clothes, he is revealed to have a very hairy chest. Much of his attitude toward relationships could be a parody of Bond's lack of reflection with regard to the loss of a woman. For example, after partner Vanessa Kensington
is revealed to be a fembot and explodes on their honeymoon, Austin mourns at first, then joyously exclaims, "Wait a tick. . . that means I'm single again! Oh, behave!" and hilariously proceeds to dance through the hotel in the nude. Some of his abilities include a kind of hypnosis
he learned from an Indian Guru, "a chaste man, who died from a disease that had all the hallmarks of syphilis
".
Austin does display a streak of morality dating from this period; for example, he will not make love to a girl (such as Vanessa Kensington after a night in Las Vegas) when she "is drunk; it's not right". This morality is not completely without irony, since Austin does not consider other mind-altering drugs to fall under this limitation.
From the original film, he lists only two things which scare him: one is nuclear war, the other are "carnies
" or "circus folk". His signature drink is Captain Morgan's mixed with Tab
(as opposed to James Bond's martini). He is the author of Swedish-Made Penis Enlarger Pumps and Me: This Sort of Thing is My Bag, Baby!
One of the things Austin is best known for is his "mojo." His mojo is the physical representation of his sex drive
. It is what gives Austin Powers his legendary sexual prowess and energy; without it, he would seemingly be rendered impotent (such as when he loses his erection while having sexual intercourse with Ivana Humpalot after Fat Bastard steals it), but finds that he IS this mojo and needs no physical representation (hence why his past self is able to have sex with Felicity during the credits). (This scene from the sequel mocks emotional depth in movies)
(1935–2009), the radio and television presenter, stated that his "Sixties grooviness" made him the inspiration for the character. Mike Myers
has claimed his father was the inspiration behind Austin Powers.
of Madonna's
Beautiful Stranger
.
s list "The 100 greatest characters of the last 20 years."
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Austin Powers series of films. He first appeared in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a 1997 American science fiction/action-comedy film and the first film of the Austin Powers series. It was directed by Jay Roach and written by Mike Myers who also stars in the title role. Myers also plays Dr. Evil, Austin Powers' arch-enemy...
(1997) and is portrayed by Mike Myers
Mike Myers (actor)
Michael John "Mike" Myers is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer of British parentage...
.
Personality
In addition to being a parody of James BondJames Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
, Austin Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London
Swinging London
Swinging London is a catch-all term applied to the fashion and cultural scene that flourished in London, in the 1960s.It was a youth-oriented phenomenon that emphasised the new and modern. It was a period of optimism and hedonism, and a cultural revolution. One catalyst was the recovery of the...
, with his constant advocacy for free love
Free love
The term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
—defending this attitude in an argument with Doctor Evil by arguing that they were rebelling against authority figures like Doctor Evil and the movement would have used less drugs if they had been aware of the long-term consequences—his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style (including crushed velvet suits and Beatle boots
Beatle boots
Beatle boots are a style of boot that have been worn since the 1960s. The boots are tight-fitting, Cuban-heeled, ankle-high boots with a sharp pointed toe, made popular by the English rock group The Beatles, for whom they were originally made. The style can feature either zipped or elastic sides...
). With his flamboyant ways and never-changing dress-sense, he is deliberately made to stick out from his surroundings; though, he invariably escapes detection when disguised, particularly when he talks about things that would have had no place in the 1990s. Despite this, he displays an intense devotion to his work; after being thawed out from cryogenic freezing and informed that Dr. Evil is on the loose, he immediately asks "When do I begin?"
In the many instances he takes off his clothes, he is revealed to have a very hairy chest. Much of his attitude toward relationships could be a parody of Bond's lack of reflection with regard to the loss of a woman. For example, after partner Vanessa Kensington
Vanessa Kensington
Vanessa Kensington is a fictional character in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and, briefly, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. She was played by actress and model, Elizabeth Hurley.-Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery:...
is revealed to be a fembot and explodes on their honeymoon, Austin mourns at first, then joyously exclaims, "Wait a tick. . . that means I'm single again! Oh, behave!" and hilariously proceeds to dance through the hotel in the nude. Some of his abilities include a kind of hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
he learned from an Indian Guru, "a chaste man, who died from a disease that had all the hallmarks of syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
".
Austin does display a streak of morality dating from this period; for example, he will not make love to a girl (such as Vanessa Kensington after a night in Las Vegas) when she "is drunk; it's not right". This morality is not completely without irony, since Austin does not consider other mind-altering drugs to fall under this limitation.
From the original film, he lists only two things which scare him: one is nuclear war, the other are "carnies
Carny
Carny or carnie is a slang term used in North America and, along with showie, in Australia for a carnival employee, as well as the language they employ...
" or "circus folk". His signature drink is Captain Morgan's mixed with Tab
Tab (soft drink)
Tab, stylized as TaB, is a diet cola soft drink produced by the Coca-Cola Company, first introduced in 1963. The soda was created by Coca Cola after the successful sales and marketing of Diet Rite cola, owned by The Royal Crown Company; previously, Diet Rite had been the only sugarless soda on the...
(as opposed to James Bond's martini). He is the author of Swedish-Made Penis Enlarger Pumps and Me: This Sort of Thing is My Bag, Baby!
One of the things Austin is best known for is his "mojo." His mojo is the physical representation of his sex drive
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
. It is what gives Austin Powers his legendary sexual prowess and energy; without it, he would seemingly be rendered impotent (such as when he loses his erection while having sexual intercourse with Ivana Humpalot after Fat Bastard steals it), but finds that he IS this mojo and needs no physical representation (hence why his past self is able to have sex with Felicity during the credits). (This scene from the sequel mocks emotional depth in movies)
Development
Obituaries of Simon DeeSimon Dee
Cyril Nicholas Henty-Dodd , better known by his stage name Simon Dee, was a British television interviewer and radio disc jockey who hosted a twice-weekly BBC TV chat show, Dee Time in the late 1960s...
(1935–2009), the radio and television presenter, stated that his "Sixties grooviness" made him the inspiration for the character. Mike Myers
Mike Myers (actor)
Michael John "Mike" Myers is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer of British parentage...
has claimed his father was the inspiration behind Austin Powers.
Other media
Austin Powers was intended to be the star of his own animated series in the late 1990s that HBO ordered 13 episodes but were never broadcast. Austin Powers has been used to advertise various products and endorsements, such as Pepsi Cola. He also appears in the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of Madonna's
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
Beautiful Stranger
Beautiful Stranger
"Beautiful Stranger" is a Grammy Award winning dance-pop song written and produced by American singer Madonna and British song-writer and musician William Orbit, drawing heavily on the 1966 song "She Comes in Colors" by Love. "Beautiful Stranger" was written for the film soundtrack Austin Powers:...
.
In popular culture
In 2010, he was voted #23 in Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
s list "The 100 greatest characters of the last 20 years."