Groovy, Baby! Revisiting Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeReleased in 1999, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is the second film in the wildly popular Austin Powers series, created by and starring Mike Myers. Building on the success of its predecessor, International Man of Mystery, this sequel amps up the absurdity, time travel antics, and cheeky British humor that made the original a cult classic.
Set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1960s, the film follows groovy British spy Austin Powers as he travels back in time to stop his arch-nemesis Dr. Evil (also played by Myers) from stealing his “mojo”—the source of his charm and confidence. Alongside new love interest Felicity Shagwell, played by Heather Graham, Powers navigates a world of eccentric villains, psychedelic fashion, and non-stop innuendo.
One of the film’s standout additions is the introduction of Fat Bastard and Mini-Me, two outrageous characters also played by Myers (Mini-Me is portrayed physically by Verne Troyer). These roles helped solidify the franchise’s reputation for slapstick, catchphrases, and over-the-top humor.Despite mixed critical reviews, the movie was a box office smash, grossing over $300 million worldwide. It became a defining comedy of the late ’90s and helped reinvigorate interest in spy spoofs, while continuing to lampoon the James Bond formula.From its funky soundtrack to its endlessly quotable lines—“Yeah, baby!”—The Spy Who Shagged Me remains a cultural time capsule of parody, pop culture, and Mike Myers at his comedic peak.
