DVD What does the world's best secret agent do when he defeats an arch-nemesis who becomes frozen in space? Why, you freeze yourself and wait for that nemesis to return to Earth. That was over thirty years ago. and guess who's just come back?
Details
Austin "Danger" Powers is a super spy - a manic womaniser in the grand James Bond tradition - except with terrible teeth and a worrying fondness for photographing women in their underwear. Living in swinging 1960s London, he spends his time battling his arch-nemesis Dr. Evil, who in turn spends his time devising elaborate plots to kill Austin with a never-ending supply of useless assassins.
After yet another failed attempt to eliminate Powers, Dr. Evil cryogenically freezes himself (along with poor Mr. Bigglesworth) and blasts off into orbit so he can return decades later and terrorise the planet without interference. Not to be outdone, Austin has himself frozen at a secret MOD base - because one simply must think ahead.
Thirty years pass. The swinging sixties give way to the fuel-crisis seventies, Cold War eighties, grunge-filled nineties, and finally 1997 - when Dr. Evil returns, reassembles his now slightly aged gang and resumes world domination. Unfortunately for him, inflation has devalued his ransom expectations, while Number 2 has turned his evil corporation into a rather profitable enterprise.
British Intelligence thaw their only hope - Austin Powers - who must now navigate CDs, the Internet, political correctness and a world that seems far less enthusiastic about consequence-free promiscuity. Will he cope? Will he adapt? Will he find an NHS dentist? Most of these questions will be answered.
Picture & Sound
The transfer appears identical to the original DVD release. Colours remain bold and psychedelic, which is essential given the outrageous costumes and set design. There are no noticeable artefacts or outlining issues, and the image still holds up well. However, considering this is a "10th Anniversary" edition with additional disc space, one might have hoped for at least a minor remaster. No such luck - though thankfully the original transfer wasn't exactly shabby.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is surprisingly lively. Dialogue is firmly anchored in the centre channel, but the surrounds are used effectively without overdoing it. I must confess the plane flyover effect genuinely made me jump - which is not something I expected to admit when reviewing Austin Powers. Combined with the cracking score, it's a soundtrack that lifts the film more than you might expect.
If you already own the original DVD, the main technical question is simple: has anything improved? The honest answer is no. The presentation is essentially the same, just now split across two discs to accommodate a handful of new extras.
Menu & Extras
The commentary with Mike Myers and Jay Roach remains an enjoyable listen - full of Bond references, background anecdotes and the sort of playful banter you'd expect. It's still one of the stronger supplements on the disc.
The "new" seventeen-minute Austin Powers: A Shaggadelic Decade featurette is a fairly standard celebratory retrospective. There's plenty of mutual admiration and reminiscing, and it's mildly interesting to see how everyone has aged (myself included, if I'm being honest). Noticeably absent, however, are Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley and Will Ferrell - which does make it feel slightly incomplete.
The interactive quiz is simple trivia fare. Get a question right and you move on. Get one wrong and you start again. I'm not entirely sure whether there's a grand prize at the end or whether the reward is simply self-satisfaction - but it passes a few minutes.
The deleted scenes and alternate endings return, and while most remain curiosities rather than essential additions, the "Death of a Henchman" sequences are genuinely hilarious and arguably deserved inclusion in the theatrical cut. There's also the 1997 promo and Ming Tea music video - quirky, dated, and oddly fitting.
Overall
Even ten years on, the film itself is still extremely funny. Dr. Evil continues to steal the show with his corporate evil briefings and wildly outdated ransom demands. The Bond parody remains affectionate rather than cynical, and the jokes still come thick and fast.
However, if you already own the original DVD release, this 10th Anniversary edition feels less like a must-own celebration and more like a gentle nudge toward your wallet. The transfer hasn't improved, the majority of extras are recycled, and the new material - while entertaining enough - isn't exactly earth-shattering.
That said, if you're new to Austin Powers or somehow missed the original DVD, this is a perfectly solid package. And if toilet humour, outrageous innuendo and shagadelic swagger are your thing, then anniversary logo or not, this film is still going to be your bag, baby.
Special features
- Austin Powers: A Shaggadelic Decade
- 1997 Promo
- Music Video
- Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
- Spy Genre Retrospective
- Cast Biographies
- Film Cameos
