Fab Cat" Myers Gets "Saucy" As "Austin Powers" Must Adjust to a World Where Films

SIGNAL Tuesday. May 1997 Features 25 Fab cat" Myers gets "saucy" as "Austin Powers" must adjust to a world where films. In the opening scene the crushed velvet pant suits, Powers is chased by a crowd free love, and the songs of of screaming women, who Burt Bacharache are no along with Powers, break into longer hip. He is partnered a spontaneous, yet perfectly with Mrs. Kensington's choreographed, dance num equally vixenish daughter, ber. In addition, scenes of played by Elizabeth Hurley, Powers go-go dancing with the and they pursue Dr. Evil and fictitious band Ming Tea ap his debonair, one-eyed hench pear sporadically throughout man Number Two, played by the movie. Robert Wagner. Myers successfully trans While trying to fight off forms himself into a well- the forces of evil, Agent meaning-but-clueless interna Kensington must also fight off tional spy, not to mention a the advances of Powers; bald evil villain with a passion thirty years and a little ice for Nehru jackets and hairless have not altered his active li cats. Hurley demonstrates bido. Powers tries relent her comedic talents in an im lessly to woo Agent pressive performance as an Kensington with his outdated extremely proper British pickup mechanisms, such as agent. There are also brief ap the rotating bed on his psy pearances by Michael York, chedelic jet. Carrie Fisher, and Tom Photo By: Kimberly Wright/ New Line Cinema Although the movie drags Arnold. Even smooth crooner Austin Powers (Mike Myers) strikes a pose with the Fembots in New Line Cinema's comedy, Austin in some scenes and there are Burt Bacharache shows up to Powers: International Man of Mystery. no hysterically funny mo sing, "What the world needs British government, and catch phrase, "Yeah baby, ments, it cleverly accom now is love sweet love...," By Kelly Conn swinging bachelor in 1967. yeah!" plishes its goal of poking fun while Powers and Agent Staff Writer Despite his thick-framed spec Powers and Mrs. at the spy films of the 1960's. Kensington dance on top of a tacles, grotesque overbite, Kensington are on the trail of The script, written by Myers, limo driving through the Las Saturday Night Live and unseemly mass of chest the notorious and scar-faced is full of Bond-like clichds, Vegas strip. Alumnus Mike Myers gives hair, he makes the ladies of Dr. Evil, also played by Myers, such as a needlessly complex Austin Powers: Interna new meaning to the word London weak in the knees. when Dr. Evil eludes them by and easily escapable death tional Man of Mystery is obvi groovy as Austin Powers in Powers very married, yet vix freezing himself inside a giant trap. There is also a scantily ously not recommended to the 60's spy film spoof Austin enish, assistant Mrs. plastic Big Boy and launching clad evil temptress with a audiences looking for an intel Powers: International Man of Kensington, played briefly by into space. In order to rid the sexually connotative name lectual comedy, but it has its Mystery. Powers is a fashion Mimi Rogers, can't even resist world of future evil, Powers and an army of statuesque, funny moments. Powers does photographer, spy for the his hip huggers and suave volunteers to freeze himself. blond, bullet-toting androids. exude a nerdy charm, but 007 Powers and Dr. Evil de The movie also plays off probably won't sweat over frost in 1997, and Powers of the musical fads of 1960's the competition. Myers speaks on return to big screen By Sean Porres to make up stuff is hard, but smart and loved to laugh. Staff Writer the thrill is like being shot out Elizabeth was very silly and of a cannon." loved to be tortured." "Eight years ago I lived After passing on numer Perhaps Myers's greatest above a grocery store. And ous projects, Myers focused gift is his unique ability to cre then things happened," re on making Austin Powers. ate comedic languages that fil flects the jocular Mike Myers. "When I started to write Aus ter into society for long dura The Canadian's comedic wit tin Powers, it was this time tions of time. "People talk how and writing talent propelled last year. Now that I'm back they talk. Wayne is the subur Photo By: Kimberly Wright/ New Line Cinema the hit films Wayne's World working I'd love to do any ban adolescent North Ameri Robert Wagner stars as Number Two, Dr. Evil's right hand man. and Wayne's World 2 and thing. If somebody told me can heavy metal dude I knew earned him an Emmy for Best my next thousand movies had growing up in the suburbs of Writing on "Saturday Night to be Austin Powers movies I Toronto. I have no master plan Live". would be happy. I had a blast for the voices and the language After taking a year off to making this movie. The direc spend with the wife and dogs, tor, Jay Roach, was super See "Myers" page 26 Myers returns to star in "Aus tin Powers: International Man of Mystery", a spy parody in which the comedian portrays both the hero (Austin Pow ers) and the villain (Dr. Evil). "I'm used to playing a lot of different characters," Myers says. "On Saturday Night Live you would play like eight characters in one show, so 1 wasn't worried." Myers acknowledges he dreamed of being a comedic actor since childhood. "I wanted to be on the show Call for more information on this unbelievable opportunity. since 1 was eleven years old. Janice Moore I was there six years. You sign Bullock & Associates a six year contract. It's tiring COO interstate North Parkway, Suite 1700 and it's hard. Gilda Radner Atlanta, CA 30339 770/612-4605 use to call it "an under re hearsed Broadway opening Northwestern once a week and a monster Photo By Kimberly Wright/ New Line Cinema Mutual Life* that eats your material insa Mike Myers, pictured above with co-star Elizabeth The Quiet Company' tiably." The grind of having Hurley, returns to film after taking a year off to spend ©19% The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company • Milwaukee 6117-09 time with his wife and dogs. .

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