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Austin Powers

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62-514: Austin Powers is a series of American satirical spy comedy films created by Mike Myers , who stars as the British spy Austin Powers as well as his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil . The series consists of International Man of Mystery (1997), The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Goldmember (2002), all of which were directed by Jay Roach , and co-produced and released by New Line Cinema . The series

124-450: A British couple, and their infidelities. 1920s : A Passage to India (1924), one of the best-known books by E.M. Forster , is set against the backdrop of the independence movement in India. Ernest Hemingway portrayed American men in peril abroad, beginning with his debut novel , The Sun Also Rises (1926). 1930s : Graham Greene was a keen traveller and another former spy, and from

186-615: A Girl in My Soup . Myers states Powers' dandyish appearance was also inspired by that of Jason King – the adventurous character (played by Peter Wyngarde ) from the ITV Spy fi series Department S who was featured in the eponymous spin off series. Myers was also influenced by the comedy troupe Monty Python , with film critic Robbie Collin writing "the Austin Powers series chugs along on Pythonisms." Other obviously apparent influences are

248-670: A Small Island (1995), American writer Bill Bryson described a farewell tour of Britain. 2000s : In A Year in the Merde (2004) English bachelor Stephen Clarke recounted comic escapades while working in Paris. In Eat, Pray, Love (2006), divorced American Elizabeth Gilbert searched for meaning in Italy, India and Indonesia. In the early chapters of Miracles of Life (2008), J. G. Ballard told of his childhood and early adolescence in Shanghai during

310-653: A Soviet expatriate living in New York City in the 1970s, including his poor work experiences, political disillusionment, and sexual experiences. In Letters from Hollywood (1986), Michael Moorcock corresponded with a friend about the life of an English writer in Los Angeles. In A Year in Provence (1989), Peter Mayle and his English family adapt to life in Southern France while renovating an old farmhouse. In Notes from

372-451: A foreign posting, and offer coaching or adjustment training before a family departs. Research suggests that tailoring pre-departure cross-cultural training and its specific relevance positively influence the fulfilment of expectations in expatriates' adjustment. According to the 2012 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report, 88 per cent of spouses resist a proposed move. The most common reasons for refusing an assignment are family concerns and

434-422: A fourth Austin Powers film may not be possible without Troyer. In May 2018, Myers reiterated his interest in making a fourth Austin Powers , stating that it would be fun, also hinting that some tribute to Troyer might be included. In November 2018, Myers stated that the project's future is "looking good" with the script already written and that Austin Powers and Dr. Evil will return soon, citing his parenthood as

496-477: A higher cost of living or hardships associated with a foreign posting. Other expenses may need to be paid, such as health care, housing, or fees at an international school . There is also the cost of moving a family and their belongings. Another problem can be government restrictions in the foreign country. Spouses may have trouble adjusting due to culture shock , loss of their usual social network, interruptions to their own career, and helping children cope with

558-448: A new school. These are chief reasons given for foreign assignments ending early. However, a spouse can also act as a source of support for an expatriate professional. Families with children help to bridge the language and culture aspect of the host and home country, while the spouse plays a critical role in balancing the families integration into the culture. Some corporations have begun to include spouses earlier when making decisions about

620-589: A parent company to more closely control its foreign subsidiaries. They can also improve global coordination. A 2007 study found the key drivers for expatriates to pursue international careers were: breadth of responsibilities, nature of the international environment ( risk and challenge), high levels of autonomy of international posts, and cultural differences (rethinking old ways). However, expatriate professionals and independent expatriate hires are often more expensive than local employees. Expatriate salaries are usually augmented with allowances to compensate for

682-460: A presumed negative perception of satire in the [American] industry: George S. Kaufman , the great Broadway playwright and director, and screenwriter, once said: 'Satire is what closes on Saturday night.' An excellent wisecrack, but it led the way to a general belief in America that satire is not commercial. When you pitch a satirical film idea, don't refer to it as satire. I used to, and I was met with

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744-452: A role in the film. However, Seth Green , who played Scott Evil, stated that there was no script at the moment and that Austin Powers 4 would be made if a script is written and approved. In June 2008, in an interview, when asked about another Austin Powers film, Myers stated, "I have an idea, and again it's one of those things that will emerge or it won't." In July 2008, Mike Myers stated that he had begun writing Austin Powers 4 , and that

806-468: A segment of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon complaining about having been dismissed from a Cabinet post in the Trump administration , raising speculation that a fourth film was in development. Following the death of Verne Troyer on April 21, 2018, questions have been raised about the potential for a fourth film without the character of Mini-Me, or with the part recast. Roach claimed in an interview that

868-452: A survey of expat opinions and trends on regular basis. There has been an increase in scholarly research into the field in recent years. For instance, Emerald Group Publishing in 2013 launched The Journal of Global Mobility: The home of expatriate management research . S.K Canhilal and R.G. Shemueli suggest that successful expatriation is driven by a combination of individual, organizational, and context-related factors. Of these factors,

930-428: A thirteen-episode season, HBO ultimately shelved the project. In October 2005, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Mike Myers discussed the possibility of studio sources moving forward with a fourth film: "There is hope! We're all circling and talking to each other. I miss doing the characters." In May 2007, in an interview with IGN , "So no more Austin Powers ?" was asked, and Myers replied, "No, no, there

992-483: A widely held stereotype. Archer took pictures of expat patrons at an English pub that he frequented in the San Fernando Valley , made sketches, and showed Myers the design. Myers told him that he had "nailed it". Influences from Sellers' films are apparent throughout the series; the character of Austin Powers reflects the inspiration of Sellers' portrayal of the character Robert Danvers in the 1970 film There's

1054-653: A young man and many of his novels, such as The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Ambassadors (1903), and The Wings of the Dove (1902), dealt with relationships between the New World and the Old. From the 1890s to 1920s, Polish-born Joseph Conrad wrote a string of English-language novels drawing on his seagoing experiences in farflung colonies, including Heart of Darkness (1899), Lord Jim (1900) and Nostromo (1904). 1900s/1910s : German-American writer Herman George Scheffauer

1116-511: Is Canadian by birth, his parents are natives of Liverpool , England, and Myers holds dual nationality . Although the films parody the plots and characters of 1960s spy movies and the Swinging London fashion scene of the era, the humour is influenced by Myers's British heritage, particularly the Carry On films and the comedic works of Benny Hill and Peter Sellers , the latter of whom Myers

1178-532: Is a conscious, thoroughly planned decision, while for others it could be a ‘spur of the moment’, spontaneous decision. This decision, of course, is influenced by the individual's geographic, socioeconomic and political environment; as well as their personal circumstances. The motivation for moving (or staying) abroad also gets adjusted with the different life changes the person experiences – for example, if they get married, have children, etc. Also, different personalities (or personality types ) have diverse reactions to

1240-572: Is a fully conceived idea for a fourth and I can just say that it's from Dr. Evil's point of view. So if you balanced how much of it was Austin with Dr. Evil, it's more about Dr. Evil than Austin". Also, in the audio commentary from the DVD release of Austin Powers in Goldmember , Myers revealed that in the fourth film, Fat Bastard would return and regain the weight that he lost in Goldmember . In May 2007, at

1302-577: Is a list of notable works and authors, by approximate date of publication. 18th century  : Persian Letters (French: Lettres persanes) is a literary work, published in 1721, by Montesquieu , relating the experiences of two fictional Persian noblemen, Usbek&Rica , who spend several years in France under Louis XIV and the Regency and who correspond with their respective friends staying at home. 19th century : American author Henry James moved to Europe as

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1364-585: Is a person who resides outside their country of citizenship . The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees , artists and other individuals who have chosen to live outside their native country. The International Organization for Migration of the United Nations defines the term as 'a person who voluntarily renounces his or her nationality '. Historically, it also referred to exiles . The word expatriate comes from

1426-468: Is a satire of numerous films and characters, particularly the James Bond series and Jason King , and incorporates many other elements of popular culture as it follows a British spy's quest to bring down his nemesis. The character of Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London , with his advocacy of free love , his use of obscure impressions and his clothing style. The films also poke fun at

1488-628: Is a self confessed fan (his favorite films being the Bond spoof Casino Royale and The Party ). Austin Powers is everything I watched (on TV in the late sixties). My parents were from Liverpool, and there's no one more English than an Englishman who no longer lives there. Every molecule of British culture that came across the Atlantic was tasted and worshipped. Powers' bad teeth were created by Los Angeles dental technician Gary Archer. Myers came to Archer and told him, "I want bad British 1960s teeth", based on

1550-426: Is a television and film genre in the fictional, pseudo-fictional , or semi-fictional category that employs satirical techniques. Film or television satire may be of the political , religious , or social variety. Works using satire are often seen as controversial or taboo in nature, with topics such as race, class, system, violence, sex, war, and politics, criticizing or commenting on them, typically under

1612-512: Is intending to move permanently. For example British Columbia and Alberta allow each others residents to attend post secondary in the other province while retaining their home province's residency. In the 19th century, travel became easier by way of steamship or train . People could more readily choose to live for several years in a foreign country, or be sent there by employers. The table below aims to show significant examples of expatriate communities which have developed since that time: During

1674-431: Is the first step in the expatriation process. People could be ‘pushed’ away as a reaction to specific socio-economic or political conditions in the home country, or ‘pulled’ towards a destination country because of better work opportunities/conditions. The ‘pull’ can also include personal preferences, such as climate, a better quality of life, or the fact that family/friends are living there. For some people, moving abroad

1736-532: The Shrek the Third premiere, Mike Myers announced that a fourth Austin Powers film was planned, but that it would focus more on Dr. Evil rather than Austin . He also said that he would start work on it after he started work on The Love Guru , which became a box office bomb . In February 2008, it was announced that Jay Roach would return as director. In April 2008, it was reported that Gisele Bündchen had been offered

1798-670: The BBC 's Adam Adamant Lives! television series, whose protagonist was a Victorian era spy, who was frozen in 1902, and then revived in the year 1966; The 1965 James Bond parody Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine , in which a mad scientist builds a small army of attractive female robots; the Matt Helm series of films starring Dean Martin ; the Derek Flint movies starring James Coburn ; The Beatles films , The Monkees television series , and

1860-564: The Latin words ex ' out of ' and patria ' native country, fatherland ' . Dictionary definitions for the current meaning of the word include: These definitions contrast with those of other words with the same meaning, such as: The varying use of these terms for different groups of foreigners can be seen as implying nuances about wealth, intended length of stay, perceived motives for moving, nationality, and even race. This has caused controversy, with some commentators asserting that

1922-466: The Tonight Show that he would "love" to make another Austin Powers film, again citing parenting as the main reason as to why the film has not yet been made. As of 2024, Austin Powers 4 has yet to be produced due to both promotional sensibilities and casting difficulties. The Austin Powers films have attracted controversy for their adult content while receiving the less-restricted PG-13-rating in

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1984-412: The "Shaguars" that were portrayed by a 1961 Jaguar E-Type and a 2001 Jaguar XK8 convertible, with a Union Jack paint scheme . The Ministry of Defence creates two cars to transport Powers through time: a psychedelic rainbow painted 1999 Volkswagen " New Beetle " convertible in the second film, and a purple 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood " pimpmobile " (number plate "SWNGR 3") in the third. In

2046-512: The "cocktail party" skits from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In . Powers was also influenced by the secret agent Harry Palmer (played by Michael Caine in three films, beginning with the 1965 film The Ipcress File ), especially Caine's thick horn-rimmed glasses . Caine himself starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), with his portrayal of Nigel Powers, father of Austin Powers, spoofing Harry Palmer. The series featured two cars number plates "SWINGER" and "SWINGER2" and collectively dubbed

2108-620: The 1930s to 1980s many of his novels and short stories dealt with Englishmen struggling to cope in exotic foreign places. Tender is the Night (1934), the last complete novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald , was about a glamorous American couple unravelling in the South of France. George Orwell drew heavily on his own experiences as a colonial policeman for his novel Burmese Days (1934). Evelyn Waugh satirised foreign correspondents in Scoop (1938). 1940s : From

2170-417: The 1930s, Nazi Germany revoked the citizenship of many opponents, such as Albert Einstein , Oskar Maria Graf , Willy Brandt and Thomas Mann , often expatriating entire families. Students who study in another country are not referred to as expatriates. The number of expatriates in the world is difficult to determine, since there is no governmental census. Market research company Finaccord estimated

2232-480: The 20th anniversary approached for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , Mike Myers claimed, "I would love to do another, but you just have to see". Two days later, Roach stated that a fourth film would only occur if Myers creates a good story for it. In May 2017, Troyer stated that Mini-Me would reveal that he can speak in the fourth movie. On April 5, 2018, Myers reprised his role as Dr. Evil on

2294-656: The Jungle Bar (1979) by Robert Drewe portrayed an Australian out of his depth while working for the UN in South-East Asia. 1990s : In both Cocaine Nights (1996) and Super-Cannes (2000), J. G. Ballard's English protagonists uncover dark secrets in luxurious gated communities in the South of France. 2000s : Platform (2001) was French author Michel Houellebecq's novel of European sex tourists in Thailand. Prague (2002)

2356-565: The United States after studying there. In My Family and Other Animals (1956) and its sequels, Gerald Durrell described growing up as the budding naturalist in an eccentric English family on the Greek island of Corfu during the late 1930s. In As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969), Laurie Lee told of busking and tramping in his youth across 1930s Spain. 1970s-1990s : In It's Me, Eddie (1979), Eduard Limonov discusses his time as

2418-480: The United States, prior to critics' protests against the MPAA 's ratings in 2010. Nell Minow of Common Sense Media expressed concern about the films exposing minors to explicit sexual content . In Malaysia , the films were regarded to be almost pornographic ; The Spy Who Shagged Me was banned from being screened while Goldmember was released with the 18SX-rating . Satire (film and television) Satire

2480-514: The band Ming Tea , with Myers as Powers, Susanna Hoffs as Jillian Shagwell, and Matthew Sweet as Sid Belvedere. Myers' wife Robin Ruzan said Myers should write a movie based on Powers. The first phrase he thought the character might say was "Do I make you horny ?", which later did indeed become a catchphrase for the character. He has also disclosed that the character also draws on his recollections of former Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee , who hosted

2542-674: The challenges of adjusting to a host-country culture; and these reactions affect their motivations to continue (or not) living abroad. In this era of international competition, it is important for companies, as well as for countries, to understand what is that motivates people to move to another country to work. Understanding expatriates' motivations for international mobility allows organisations to tailor work packages to match expatriates' expectations in order to attract and/or retain skilled workers from abroad. Trends in recent years among business expatriates have included: The Munich-based paid expatriate networking platform InterNations conducts

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2604-513: The character who would become Austin Powers. In an interview in November 2018 with Access Hollywood , Myers stated, "After my dad died in 1991, I was taking stock of his influence on me as a person and his influence on me with comedy in general. So Austin Powers was a tribute to my father, who [introduced me to] James Bond , Peter Sellers , The Beatles , The Goodies , Peter Cook and Dudley Moore ." The Austin Powers character first appeared in

2666-599: The disguise of other genres including, but not limited to, comedies , dramas, parodies , fantasies and/or science fiction . Satire may or may not use humor or other, non-humorous forms as an artistic vehicle to illuminate, explore, and critique social conditions, systems of power ("social, political, military, medical or academic institutions" ), hypocrisy , and other instances of human behavior . Film director Jonathan Lynn generally advises against marketing one's work as "satire" because according to Lynn it "can substantially reduce viewing figures and box office" due to

2728-531: The enjoyment of the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. Some neologisms have been coined, including: The term "expatriate" is sometimes misspelled as "ex-patriot", which author Anu Garg has characterised as an example of an eggcorn . In Canada someone who resides in a different province on a temporary basis while continuing to hold their home province's residency is colloquially called an "interprovincial expat" as opposed to an "interprovincial migrant" who changes their residency and usually

2790-558: The final years of the British Empire in India. John le Carré made use of overseas settings for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) and many of his subsequent novels about British spies. 1970s : In The Year of Living Dangerously (1978), Christopher Koch portrayed the lead-up to a 1965 coup in Indonesia through the eyes of an Australian journalist and a British diplomat. A Cry in

2852-482: The first real television chat show in the United Kingdom in 1967, which ended with his driving off in a sports car with a young blonde in the passenger seat. An important inspiration for the series is British super spy James Bond . Myers said of Bond, "I can't even tell you how huge it was in our house ... That's really why I wanted to do Austin Powers. Austin Powers is out of pure love for James Bond." Though Myers

2914-599: The inevitable response that satirical films don't make money. This view is factually incorrect. Plenty have done so, if budgeted right. Film, more than television, offers advantages for satire, such as the "possibility of achieving the proper balance" between realism and non-realism , using the latter to communicate about the former. The ideal climate for a satirical film involves "fairly free" political conditions and/or independent producers with "modest" financial backing. UK USA Japan Expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat )

2976-751: The mid-1940s to the 1990s, American-born Paul Bowles set many short stories and novels in his adopted home of Morocco, including The Sheltering Sky (1949). Malcolm Lowry in Under the Volcano (1947) told the tale of an alcoholic British consul in Mexico on the Day of the Dead. 1950s : From the 1950s to the 1990s, American author Patricia Highsmith set many of her psychological thrillers abroad, including The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955). James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room (1956)

3038-526: The miniseries deals with Americans in Hong Kong. Tom Rachman in his debut novel The Imperfectionists (2010) wrote of journalists working for an English-language newspaper in Rome. Memoirs of expatriate life can be considered a form of travel literature with an extended stay in the host country. Some of the more notable examples are listed here in order of their publication date, and recount experiences of roughly

3100-458: The most significant have been outlined as: cross-cultural competences, spousal support, motivational questions, time of assignment, emotional competences, previous international experience, language fluency, social relational skills, cultural differences, and organizational recruitment and selection process. Expatriate milieus have been the setting of many novels and short stories, often written by authors who spent years living abroad. The following

3162-534: The number to be 66.2 million in 2017. In 2013, the United Nations estimated that 232 million people, or 3.2% of the world population, lived outside their home country. As of 2019, according to the United Nations , the number of international migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million, or 3.5% of the world population. Some multinational corporations send employees to foreign countries to work in branch offices or subsidiaries. Expatriate employees allow

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3224-404: The outrageous plots, rampant sexual innuendo , and one-dimensional stock characters associated with 1960s spy films . Myers himself has stated in interviews that the idea for Austin Powers came to him one night while driving home from ice hockey practice. Hearing the song " The Look of Love " by Burt Bacharach on his car radio, he wondered "Where have all the swingers gone?" and conceived

3286-453: The plot is "really about Dr. Evil and his son." In March 2010, Jay Roach indicated to MTV that Myers is working on ideas for a fourth film. In August 2011, Mike Myers revealed he would return, and had begun writing a script for a fourth installment. In September 2013, when asked about the future of Austin Powers , Myers answered "I'm still figuring that out." In September 2015, Verne Troyer expressed his desire to return as Mini-Me if he

3348-435: The reason for how long the delays in development in the film have lasted and that Roach will most likely reprise his directorial duties. In January 2020, Jay Roach again indicated that he was interested in doing a fourth film. In February 2022, Myers told The Today Show he "would love to do" a fourth Austin Powers movie but could "neither confirm nor deny" whether it would be made. In October 2022, Mike Myers stated on

3410-553: The same decade unless noted otherwise. Medieval : In The Travels of Marco Polo ( c.  1300 ), Rustichello da Pisa recounted the tales of Italian merchant Marco Polo about journeying the Silk Road to China. 1930s-1960s : In the first half of Down and Out in Paris and London (1933), George Orwell described a life of low-paid squalor while working in the kitchens of Parisian restaurants. In The America That I Have Seen (1949), Egyptian Islamist Sayyid Qutb denounced

3472-455: The second film, Felicity Shagwell drives a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette with an American flag paint scheme . In the third, Nigel Powers has a 2001 Mini Cooper which can travel underwater, and which bears the number plate "GR8 SHAG". The series consists of three films: HBO purchased the rights to produce an animated series based on the Austin Powers films in May 1999. Despite announcing plans for

3534-539: The spouse's career. Expatriate failure is a term which has been coined for an employee returning prematurely to their home country, or resigning. About 7% of expatriates return early, but this figure does not include those who perform poorly while on assignment or resign entirely from a company. When asked the cost of a premature expatriate's return, a survey of 57 multinational companies reported an average cost of about US$ 225,000. People move abroad for many different reasons. An understanding of what makes people move

3596-520: The traditional use of the word "expat" has had racist connotations. An older usage of the word expatriate referred to an exile . Alternatively, when used as a verbal noun, expatriation can mean the act of someone renouncing allegiance to their native country, as in the preamble to the United States Expatriation Act of 1868 which states: 'the right of expatriation is a natural and inherent right of all people, indispensable to

3658-571: Was a debut novel by Arthur Phillips which dealt with Americans and Canadians in Hungary towards the end of the Cold War. Shantaram (2003) was a bestselling novel by Gregory David Roberts about an Australian criminal who flees to India. 2010s : American novelist Chris Pavone has set several thrillers overseas since his debut The Expats (2012). Janice Y. K. Lee in The Expatriates (2016) and

3720-510: Was about an American man having an affair in Paris with an Italian bartender. Anthony Burgess worked as a teacher in Malaya and made it the setting of The Malayan Trilogy (1956-1959). The Alexandria Quartet (1957-1960) was the best-known work of Lawrence Durrell , who was born in India to British parents and lived overseas for most of his life. 1960s : English writer Paul Scott is best known for The Raj Quartet (1965-1975) dealing with

3782-515: Was active from 1900 to 1925. English writer W. Somerset Maugham , a former spy, set many short stories and novels overseas, such as The Moon and Sixpence (1919) in which an English stockbroker flees to Tahiti to become an artist, and The Razor's Edge (1944) in which a traumatised American pilot seeks meaning in France and India. Ford Madox Ford used spa towns in Europe as the setting for his novel The Good Soldier (1915) about an American couple,

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3844-436: Was asked to do so. In May 2016, Roach was asked about the fourth Austin Powers film during an interview with Larry King , and he stated the ideas for the fourth film that he and Myers have are good and interesting. In August 2016, in a telephone interview, Mike Myers stated "Everything is being negotiated and worked out and all that stuff" regarding the fourth installment of the Austin Powers film series. In April 2017, as

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