What do British people think about...

[InsanityWave]

Its not offenive to me in any way I find it a little bit annoying really.

 

[Ambarato]

I find them funny and i'm british.

 

[Alex0032]

I'm not British.............I'm ENGLISH. There are FOUR countries in the UK not one. Sorry if that's a little too confusing for some.

Austin Powers = not offensive in the slightest. Few moments where he's onto some genuine English stereotypes, but other moments (like the bad teeth) are just common myth.

I agree with you, althought I dislike being called British, and would much rather recognised as English, you just won't get that from Americans, or many other ountries. Through no fault of their own mind you. It doesn't help them when more people say "I'm British" than "I'm Welsh" or "I'm English." If anyone it's people from the UK who are to blame for giving everyone the impression we all love being called British.

No, I don't find Austin Powers offensive. Mike Myers is half English I think, born in London to an English mother. Not that it makes a difference.

 

[electric discordian]

Yeah Im English and an International Man of Mystery and I found them funny! You have to bear in mind that the British sense of humour is far more dark and twisted than the American Sense of humour.

Why is it that Americans seem to only know two cities in England, Manchester and London. As evidenced in the show Frasier.

 

[Kukakkau]

occassionly funny - mostly annoying
the whole Fat Bastard thing kinda offended me (im scottish) but it was too poor an attempt at mocking us for me to care too much

At least you didn't throw a fit. Still, to be offended by a comedy that is chock full of stereotypes is sort of missing the point.

agreed. thats like monty python's life of brian - people complained because it mocked christianity. but its all fun so let it be

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Austin Powers is a Mr Bean clone, and a good proportion of the UK hate it because it's become as "English" as Homer Simpson is "American".

Dr. Evil on the other hand, is cool, as is Number Two and Scott Evil.

Basically, the films are rips of the classic Ealing comedies [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ealing_Comedies] with little to no subtlety, which is the crux of English humour.

In a similar way, we removed and hated the 'laughter track' on M.A.S.H. We like to decide when to laugh.

 

[RufusMcLaser]

It's an American film attempting to poke fun at Britain's culture.

LOL

...American produced, maybe, but Mike Meyers is Canadian.
In interviews he's talked about how he and his (Cockney) father used to watch Michael Caine movies, and the first Austen Powers movie was most of all a send-up of them in memory of his dad.

 

[Gooble]

I don't find it that funny, but I'm not offended by it

 

[NeedAUserName]

It's an American film attempting to poke fun at Britain's culture.

LOL

I thought it was more a spoof of all the old school Spy flicks. That makes a bit more sense. Lol.

Its is, and and Mike Myers has British heritage I might add.

 

[TheOutlander]

Another Englishman here and I don't find it offensive it all..
I think it would be a waste of time for me though reiterating the key thoughts of this thread (I'm ENGLISH not BRITISH, and the 1st film was fantastic and they've severely spiralled since them), but in relation to those points.. I CONCUR!! *raps hand on table*

 

[EeveeElectro]

I don't see why it should...
Then again, I don't get offended easily, and Austin Powers is perfectly simple for my small brain to handle.

 

[Iron Mal]

I'm Irish/British and I find Austin Powers to be hilarious.

I wouldn't say that anything about it is offensive since most of it is ridiculously over the top and parodied.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

As for how brits feel, they probably take it with dry annoyance. The fact that some yank actor is doing a brittish immitation

First point: not really, no. Most people I know love it.

Second point: That 'yank actor' (mike Myers), whilst born in Canada, has British parents, meaning he is probably clued up about our culture as much as us. He pulled off being a Brit perfectly. In fact, I thought was British until recently.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

I'm not British.............I'm ENGLISH. There are FOUR countries in the UK not one. Sorry if that's a little too confusing for some.

Technically Britain does not mean UK. The two terms are separate.

and a good proportion of the UK hate it

So you spoken to a good proportion of the UK?

Perhaps your circle of friends may not like it, but I don't think you can vouch for the majority of the population of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

and a good proportion of the UK hate it

So you spoken to a good proportion of the UK?

Well, I have talked to a large number of people, and I'd say 99% of them. Given it only got 68% on Rotten Tomatoes as well; you could estimate that.

Perhaps your circle of friends may not like it, but I don't think you can vouch for the majority of the population of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

And I didn't. My circles are quite large though, some even quite liked Paris Hilton in "House of Wax", but I don't think I can hold that against them.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

I'm from the UK, and I don't find it offensive. I don't find it to be as funny as other films, (the humour is a bit hit and miss) but I have no reason to be offended. It's a fictional character, after all.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

Well, I have talked to a large number of people, and I'd say 99% of them. Given it only got 68% on Rotten Tomatoes as well; you could estimate that.

Oh, yes, because the internet is a totally reliable and unquestionable source to the opinions of four nations.

And I didn't.

You said "and a good proportion of the UK hate it". I would consider that quite a generalising term, meaning you were certain a majority of the UK hated the film.

 

[Fudj]

Self-deprecation is part of being British. You'd have difficulty offending us by making fun of us.

Pretty Much sums us up.

Though Little Britain offends me - Mainly cause i thinks it rubbish and very un-funny but each to there own i suppose