Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Second installment in the Austin Powers film series.
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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is a 1999 American spy comedy. Mike Myers wrote the script, and Jay Roach directed. It is the second movie in the Austin Powers series, coming after *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery* (1997). Myers plays three roles: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, and Fat Bastard. The cast also includes Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Rob Lowe, and Elizabeth Hurley. The story involves British spy Austin Powers and the villain Dr. Evil trying to defeat each other. The movie's title is a twist on the James Bond film *The Spy Who Loved Me* (1977).
This film was the most commercially successful of the Austin Powers series, earning $312 million worldwide. Its opening weekend made more money than the first film earned in its entire run. It received a nomination at the 72nd Academy Awards for Best Makeup. The next movie in the series was *Austin Powers in Goldmember* (2002).
The plot begins in 1999. On his honeymoon, Austin discovers his wife Vanessa is a fembot controlled by Dr. Evil. She self-destructs, and Austin celebrates being single. Meanwhile, Dr. Evil returns from space and appears on *The Jerry Springer Show*, reuniting with his son Scott. At his lair in Seattle's Space Needle, Dr. Evil gets a dwarf clone named Mini-Me. He plans to travel back to the 1960s and steal Austin's "mojo," which he defines as libido or life force. Dr. Evil and Mini-Me go to 1969, meeting a younger Number Two and Frau Farbissina. Dr. Evil's henchman Fat Bastard extracts Austin's mojo from his frozen body at the Ministry of Defence. Back in 1999, British intelligence warns Austin that an agent is after him. The agent, Ivana Humpalot, finds Austin irresistible and spares him. While in bed with her, Austin realizes he has lost his mojo.
The MOD sends Austin to 1969 in a time-traveling Volkswagen New Beetle. He arrives at his London home and avoids an assassination attempt with help from CIA agent Felicity Shagwell. They subdue another henchman, Mustafa, who reveals Dr. Evil's lair exists, but Mini-Me kills him before he can say where. Fat Bastard gives Austin's mojo to Dr. Evil, who drinks some and has sex with Frau. Dr. Evil announces a plan to threaten the world with a giant laser on the Moon. Austin turns down Felicity's sexual advances because he lacks his mojo. He learns Fat Bastard stole it.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Jay Roach
- Writer
- Mike Myers / Michael McCullers
- Based On
- Characters · Mike Myers
- Producer
- Suzanne Todd / Jennifer Todd / Demi Moore / Eric McLeod / John Lyons / Mike Myers
- Starring
- Mike Myers / Heather Graham / Michael York / Robert Wagner / Seth Green / Elizabeth Hurley
- Cinematography
- Ueli Steiger
- Editing
- Debra Neil-Fisher / Jon Poll
- Music
- George S. Clinton
- Production Companies
- New Line Cinema / Eric's Boy / Moving Pictures / Team Todd
- Distributor
- New Line Cinema
- Released
- 11 June 1999
- Runtime
- 95 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On his honeymoon in 1999, British spy Austin Powers discovers his wife Vanessa Kensington is an android fembot controlled by Dr. Evil. After she self-destructs, Austin celebrates being single. Dr. Evil returns from space and appears on The Jerry Springer Show, reuniting with his son Scott. Dr. Evil plans to time travel to the 1960s and steal Austin's mojo, defined as libido or life force. Dr. Evil and his dwarf clone Mini-Me travel to 1969, where henchman Fat Bastard extracts Austin's mojo from his frozen body. Austin loses his mojo and is sent to 1969 in a time-traveling Volkswagen New Beetle, where he teams with CIA agent Felicity Shagwell. Dr. Evil threatens to destroy cities with a giant laser on the Moon. Austin and Felicity pursue Dr. Evil to the Moon base, where Austin battles Mini-Me and eventually flushes him into space. Austin uses the time machine to save Felicity and the world, but Dr. Evil destroys Austin's mojo. Felicity tells Austin he still has his mojo, and they escape to 1999.
Reader's Guide
The Spy Who Shagged Me was the most commercially successful film in the Austin Powers series, grossing $312 million worldwide. Its opening weekend gross surpassed the lifetime gross of the first film. It set records for the widest release of all time and the highest June opening and highest opening for a comedy. The film was nominated at the 72nd Academy Awards for Best Makeup. Critical reception was mixed: Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 53% approval rating, while Metacritic gave it a score of 59 out of 100. The soundtrack included Madonna's Grammy-winning song 'Beautiful Stranger' and Lenny Kravitz's cover of 'American Woman'. The film's use of the word 'shag' in the title helped increase the word's acceptability, reducing its shock value. Singapore considered changing the title to The Spy Who Shioked Me. The film was followed by Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).
Did You Know?
- The film's title is a play on the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
- The film was nominated for Best Makeup at the 72nd Academy Awards.
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