Myers’ Power Mike Myers Tries To Revive Wacky-Spy Genre Of The ‘60s, But His Comedy Skills Are Stuck At Level Of A Television Skit

Would you believe that “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” is the funniest spy satire since the glory days of “Get Smart”?

Well, would you believe that it’s a moderately amusing spoof?

Then would you believe that it’s pretty much a turkey?

Sorry about that, chief, but the third description fits best. This new Mike Myers movie is the sort of spy spoof that reminds you of why the whole silly sub-genre pretty much killed itself off in the ‘60s.

The title character is a British secret agent who has himself cryogenically frozen in 1967 because his archenemy, the evil Dr. Evil, also has himself frozen. After both are defrosted in the present, mayhem and hilarity ensue.

Well, mayhem, anyway.

In addition to playing both hero and villain, Myers wrote the script and co-produced the film. But whatever he had going for him in the late ‘80s on “Saturday Night Live” - when he was coming up with great bits like “Sprockets,” “Coffee Talk” and, of course, “Wayne’s World” - seems to have mostly deserted him around 1993, the time of the droopy “Wayne’s World 2.”

Oh, there is some stray wit here.

For a while, it’s funny that Austin, a product of swingin’ Carnaby Street, wears a crushed-velvet suit, has terrible teeth (which, we’re told, was possible for a British sex symbol to have in those days) and uses terms like “groovy, baby,” “smashing” and “shag” (i.e., make love). My favorite Austinism is “Oh, behave!,” which is spoken in a mischievously chiding tone of voice whenever someone else says something naughty.

And it’s funny that the bald, scar-faced Dr. Evil sounds vaguely like Ed Sullivan and that Agent Vanessa Kensington (the ever-game Elizabeth Hurley), Austin’s beautiful sidekick, becomes increasingly frustrated as she attempts to fend off his anachronistic advances. (“I won’t bite … hard,” beckons Austin.)

But it soon becomes obvious that Myers’ script is really a bunch of not-so-groovy notions for TV comedy sketches, all jammed together. The movie is a lot more fun to talk about than it is to actually watch.

With Myers starring, writing and co-producing, director Jay Roach may not have had control of the project - but then neither did anyone else. “Austin Powers” almost makes “Casino Royale” (1967) look elegant.

Caught up in this spoofy dud are Robert Wagner as the fiendish Number Two (because he’s second-in-command to Dr. Evil), Michael York as a good guy called Basil Exposition (because he explains the plot) and Fabiana Udenio as a villainess called Alotta Fagina (don’t ask). Carrie Fisher does a cameo as a therapist, and Mimi Rogers appears as Vanessa’s mother, Austin’s former leather-jump-suit-wearing partner a la Emma Peel of “The Avengers.”

Tom Arnold, sporting a cowboy hat, pops up in what may be the movie’s worst scene. Suffice it to say that, seated in a rest-room stall next to Austin’s, he shouts encouragement to our hero.

Oh, behave!

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY” Location: Lincoln Heights, North Division, Showboat Credits: Directed by Jay Roach, starring Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers, Robert Wagner Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG-13