"Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"

Title: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"
Director: Jay Roach
Producers: E. McLeod, D. Moore, M Myers, etc...
Editing: Debra Neil-Fisher and Dawn Hoggatt
Composer: George S. Clinton
Starring:
- Mike Myers as Austin Powers
- Mike Myers as Dr. Evil
- Michael York as Basil Exposition
- Elizabeth Hurley as Vanessa Kensington
- Seth Green as Scott Evil
- Will Ferrell as Mustafa

Plot and Critical Review: In 1967, British gentleman spy Austin Powers attempts to assassinate his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Dr. Evil escapes by launching himself in a space rocket disguised as a Bob's Big Boy statue, and cryogenically freezing himself. Powers volunteers to be put into cryostasis, that he might be revived when Dr. Evil returns.

Thirty years later, in 1997, Dr. Evil returns with new plans for world domination. Though already wealthy, Dr. Evil proposes several plans to threaten the world for more money, but finds each of them have happened naturally during his absence; he ultimately falls back on his usual plan to steal nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage. He is advised to seek one hundred billion dollars in ransom money. He also discovers that henchwoman Frau Farbissina has used a sample of his semen to artificially create his son, Scott Evil, now a Generation Y teenager. Scott is resentful of his father, despite Dr. Evil's attempts to get closer to him through therapy and hugs.

Having learned of Dr. Evil's return, the British Ministry of Defence unfreezes Powers, acclimating him to the year 1997 with the help of agent Vanessa Kensington. Powers quickly finds his free love credo of the 1960s to be out of touch with the 1990s, and is unable to woo Vanessa with his usual charms and sexual charisma. Later, the two pose as a married couple in a Las Vegas hotel and meet Number 2's Italian secretary, Alotta Fagina. Powers later breaks into her penthouse suite for reconnaissance and sleeps with her. He discovers plans for Dr. Evil's "Project Vulcan", which aims to drill a nuclear warhead into the Earth's molten core and trigger volcanic eruptions worldwide. Dr. Evil, learning that Powers is pursuing him, creates a series of seductive identical female robots (called Fembots) that will lure Powers with their beauty before killing him. Austin apologises to Vanessa for the affair with Alotta and vows to only be with her.

The couple infiltrate Dr. Evil's headquarters but are captured by his henchman, Random Task. After Dr. Evil makes his demands to the world, he reveals that even after receiving the money he will still proceed with Project Vulcan. He then places Powers and Vanessa in a "death trap" from which they easily escape. Powers instructs her to get help while he eludes and destroys the fembots by performing a striptease. Vanessa escapes Dr. Evil's stronghold and returns with British soldiers. Powers finds the doomsday device and deactivates it at the last moment. He later finds Dr. Evil and Alotta Fagina. Alotta has taken Vanessa hostage, but Number 2 appears and offers to make a deal with Powers. Dr. Evil apparently kills Number 2 and makes his escape back to his rocket, setting off the base's self-destruct system. Vanessa knocks Alotta unconscious and escapes with Powers as the base explodes.

Powers and Vanessa are later married, but during their honeymoon they are attacked by Random Task. Powers subdues the assassin and the couple adjourn to their balcony to observe the stars. Noticing a rather bright star, Powers pulls out a telescope to discover that it is in fact Dr. Evil's cryogenic chamber. Dr. Evil vows to exact his revenge.

I remember well when this movie came out, for I was just old enough to appreciate some of the adult humor but young enough to love Austin's antics, impersonations, and style. Toting a remarkably willing cast of superstars and an irresistibly delightful soundtrack, this was one of the top movies of my early teen years. "Austin..." did well in theatres, opening at #2 and grossing almost 4x the amount it cost to make the film. It was also a financial and creative shot-in-the-arm for Mike Myers who had been off of the screen for almost five years; not making any major appearances after "Wayne's World 2". We can attribute much of his success (and failures, for there have been some...) in the last decade or so to the mostly positive reaction audiences had to the first "Austin..." film. I am not sure the same can be said for the two which would follow it.

My Rating: 6.5/10

Content to Caution:
V-2.5 - Judo Chop!
L-2 - Mild-mannered cursing.
DU-1.5 - Some smoking and drinking.
RT-1 - No comment.
H/S-1.5 - Beware the steamroller.
CH-3 - Nothing you wouldn't expect from a most unpolished copy of 007. Many instances of sexual humor.
S/N - 2.5 - Skimpy clothing worn by many, and partial nudity.

The "Reel Revelation": "Holy Humor - Pt. 1"

This hardly seems the time to be talking about humor, doesn't it? This is Lent, after all; the liturgical season of penitence, repentance, and fasting! What's so funny about that?! We make doubly sure to suck the giggles out of our solemn ceremonies with hymns like this one:

Forty days and forty nights
thou wast fasting in the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled.

Should not we thy sorrow share
and from worldly joys abstain,
fasting with unceasing prayer,
strong with thee to suffer pain?

Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
grant we may not faint or fall! ("Forty Days and Forty Nights", Vs. 1-3)

Quite a riot, isn't it?

It is indeed proper that we regard Lent as a season of contemplation, reflection, and devotion, for it is. But even in our reflection and fasting, there is a beautiful and holy humor that persists. Indeed, we find that his humor has persisted all along, but I suspect that investigating it against the solemnity of the Lenten season will increase our appreciation for its presence. To be clear, I don't mean "humor" in the sense of entertainment, experience, or interaction that excites jovial feelings. You can get that easily enough without God's help. I mean the deep joy (for "joy" is much nearer to what I am describing than "humor") that is unleashed upon us as a result of God's love and grace. But I don't mean the smiley sort of joy that you can put on like a mask, for anyone can "put on a happy face." I mean the abiding joy that rests deep within; the joy that accompanies the "peace of God, that surpasses all comprehension." (Phil. 4:7) That's holy humor, and embracing it will help us to:

- Laugh at ourselves. (Pt. 1)
- Stand up to the laughter of others. (Pt. 2)
- Live in God's joyous peace. (Pt. 3)

Have you ever laughed at yourself, perhaps because something you said or did struck you as being funny? Try and recall a specific instance. Bring the memory into focus and replay that moment for yourself. Do you still laugh over it? Can you go a step further and remember why it was funny? I'll give it a go...

I remember one of the first Masses I played at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks, MN. It was the summer of 2007 and I was serving as a pastoral music intern. I had to learn quite a bit of new music upon my arrival so I could keep up with what the parishioners already knew. Among the great list of songs was The Mass of God's Promise, composed by Dan Schutte. I'd never heard any part of this Mass setting before, and I was terrified of it. I tried my best to learn it, but when the weekend rolled around I felt totally unprepared. With trembling hands I laid into the "Sanctus" (Holy, Holy, Holy) and was lost within a couple of bars. I rushed ahead, trying to catch up with the congregation, but failed. More wrong notes, missed chords, incorrect harmonies! A nightmare! I finished the piece strongly, but wished I could have crawled into the piano and hid for the rest of the summer. Looking back, I can't help but laugh at myself... I may not have thought it very funny in the moment, but by God's grace I can see the humor in it now.

Why do I laugh now? I used to think having all the notes in the right place was so important, and that "true music" couldn't be achieved unless everything was where it belonged. I guess I hadn't listened to much jazz... I also laugh because I see how seriously I took myself and my art. Not to say that that artists shouldn't be concerned with respect to their gifts, but I laugh because I can see how tightly I was holding on to my music. Looking back on that event helps me to see how far I've come as a musician and a follower of Jesus Christ. May God grant you the same measure of reflection and realization!

Go on...have a chuckle at your own expense. After all...

- Abraham and Sarah (then Abram and Sarai) laughed at God when He told them Sarah would conceive a child! (Genesis 17:17, 18:12)
- Hannah couldn't contain her laughter when she came before Eli with her son Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:20-2:6)
- The Disciples returned to Jerusalem "with great joy" (Luke 24:52) right after Jesus ascended into Heaven...wouldn't that be a sad moment for you?!
- Mike Myers even dared to laugh at the James Bond franchise with the character and person of "Austin Powers".

In so doing we humble ourselves, realizing that we really are "works in progress". We see where we've been, what we've gone through, and how God has changed us.

See you tomorrow- E.T.