Austin Powers (character)
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| Austin Powers | |
|---|---|
| Austin Powers series character | |
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| First appearance | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery |
| Created by | Mike Myers |
| Portrayed by | Mike Myers Aaron Himelstein (teenager) Tom Cruise (in film-within-film) |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Spy for the Ministry of Defence |
| Family | Nigel Powers (father) Dr. Evil (brother) |
| Spouse(s) | Vanessa Kensington (deceased) |
| Significant other(s) | Felicity Shagwell Foxxy Cleopatra |
| Relatives | Mini-Me (brother's clone) Scott Evil (nephew) Frau Farbissina (nephew's possible mother) |
| Nationality | British |
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.[1]
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[edit] Personality
In addition to being a parody of James Bond, 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)
[edit] Development
Obituaries of Simon Dee (1935–2009), the radio and television presenter, stated that his "Sixties grooviness" made him the inspiration for the character.[2][3][4] Mike Myers has claimed his father was the inspiration behind Austin Powers.[5]
[edit] 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.[6][7][8] Austin Powers has been used to advertise various products and endorsements, such as Pepsi Cola.[9] He also appears in the music video of Madonna's Beautiful Stranger and Britney Spears' Boys.
[edit] In popular culture
In 2010, he was voted #23 in Entertainment Weekly's list "The 100 greatest characters of the last 20 years."[10]
[edit] References
- ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Big marketers are betting on 'Austin Powers' to endear them to young people.". The New York Times. 1999-06-14. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50814F7395C0C778DDDAF0894D1494D81. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Evans, Peter (2009-08-31). "The groovy rise and sad fall of Simon Dee, the real Austin Powers". Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210153/The-groovy-rise-sad-fall-Simon-Dee-real-Austin-Powers.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "TV chat show star Simon Dee dies". BBC. 2009-08-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8229429.stm. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Dee day for the real Austin Powers". The Age (Melbourne). 2009-08-31. http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/people/dee-day-for-the-real-austin-powers-20090831-f4y3.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Austin Powers has The Force". BBC. 1999-06-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/368451.stm. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ Kaplan, Don (1999-05-04). "YEAH, BABY! HBO SINKS TEETH INTO 'AUSTIN POWERS' CARTOON". The New York Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/68486544.html?dids=68486544:68486544&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+04,+1999&author=DON+KAPLAN&pub=New+York+Post&desc=YEAH,+BABY!+HBO+SINKS+TEETH+INTO+'AUSTIN+POWERS'+CARTOON&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Seiler, Andy (1999-06-21). "The spy who won't go away HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected". USA Today. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/42551689.html?dids=42551689:42551689&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21,+1999&author=Andy+Seiler&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=The+spy+who+won't+go+away+HBO+will+animate+'Austin+Powers,'+and+a+third+movie+is+expected&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (1999-06-21). "Cinema: Austin's Power". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991301-2,00.html. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ "Freebies Power Austin's Promotional Mojo". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-06-20/business/9906180968_1_spy-who-shagged-austin-powers-new-line-cinema. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years". Entertainment Weekly. http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
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