INTRODUCTION
Johnny English is a film I wanted to see from the first time I heard it had been made. I love Rowan Atkinson and think he is brilliant. I loved him in Blackadder, Bean and The Thin Blue Line. I even enjoyed the Bean movie!
But having missed it in the cinema, I was more resolved ... Read review
There have been films based on books, video games, theme park rides and even songs, ... more
butJohnny Englishmust be the first one based on an advert. Taking its inspiration from the Barclaycard commercials, which starred Rowan Atkinson as a hapless MI6 agent,...
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He knows no fear,He knows no danger,He knows nothing.Rowan Atkinson plays Johnny English, ... more
the last remaining British spy, and Britain's last hope!With the assistance of his sidekick Bough (Ben Miller, The Parole Officer) he must investigate the mysteri...
There have been films based on books, video games, theme park rides and even songs, ... more
butJohnny Englishmust be the first one based on an advert. Taking its inspiration from the Barclaycard commercials, which starred Rowan Atkinson as a hapless MI6 agent,...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows nothing! Bumbling British intelligence ... more
officer Johnny English has to step into the breach when all his fellow agents are suddenly bumped off. With the machinations of mysterious millionaire Pascal Sauvage...
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Mr Bean's Holiday:Mr Bean is heading to the South of France for a simple holiday in the ... more
sun. His voyage from London to the Riviera soon transcends into one of mischief and mayhem! Mr Bean inadvertently creates havoc wherever he goes. This culminates in an unscheduled and riotous screening of his own video diary at the Cannes Film Festival.Bean The Ultimate Disaster Movie:When the Royal National Gallery of London is asked to send their finest scholars to oversee the unveiling of Whistler's Mother in California, they send their most inept and detested employees, in a desperate attempt to get him out of their lives. That employee is Mr. Bean - The master of disaster! Within days of his arrival, Mr Bean destroys virtually everything he comes into contact with, be it at the career and marriage of his host or America's greatest painting. Forget volcanoes and alien invasions - horror now has a human face. 3 Original Classic Mr. Bean Episodes; Including One Never Shown On TV!Mr. Bean - The very first episode of Mr. Bean in which he takes an exam, sunbathes and goes to church, driving badly wherever he goes.The Return Of Mr. Bean - Mr. Bean goes shopping, has a meal and meets Royal, all without saying much to anyone.Hair By Mr Bean Of London - Mr. Bean goes to the hairdressers enjoy s a village fete and arrives at the train station - not previously shown on TV!
Johnny English: Rowan Atkinson plays Johnny English, the last remaining British spy, and ... more
Britain's last hope! With the assistance of his sidekick Bough, (Ben Miller, The Parole Officer) he must investigate the mysterious theft of the British Crown jewels.Thunderbirds: Saving the world is a full-time job for ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy, his four elder sons and their five incredible machines: the Thunderbirds. Together, they form International rescue, a top secret organisation the world relies upon.
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: Very funny, Rowan Atkinson, good family fun. Disadvantages: Not to everyone's taste.
INTRODUCTION
Johnny English is a film I wanted to see from the first time I heard it had been made. I love Rowan Atkinson and think he is brilliant. I loved him in Blackadder, Bean and The Thin Blue Line. I even enjoyed the Bean movie!
But having missed it in the cinema, I was more resolved to hire it on DVD when it came out – which it did last Monday. Encouraged by hubby and the kids, who also wanted to watch ... ...about a secret agent called Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson). The character is based on Rowan’s Barclaycard TV ads of a few years ago and as in those, he has a sidekick called Bough (played in the film by Ben Miller).
English works for the Secret Service, but is completely incompetent and a liability. However, he becomes MI-7’s top agent by default. As he bungles his way from error to accident, from mishap to tragedy, he ... more
INTRODUCTION
Johnny English is a film I wanted to see from the first time I heard it had been made. I love Rowan Atkinson and think he is brilliant. I loved him in Blackadder, Bean and The Thin Blue Line. I even enjoyed the Bean movie!
But having missed it in the cinema, I was more resolved to hire it on DVD when it came out – which it did last Monday. Encouraged by hubby and the kids, who also wanted to watch it, I finally got the DVD out of Blockbusters on Thursday.
THE PLOT
For those that have missed all the publicity, the film is about a secret agent called Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson). The character is based on Rowan’s Barclaycard TV ads of a few years ago and as in those, he has a sidekick called Bough (played in the film by Ben Miller).
English works for the Secret Service, but is completely incompetent and a liability. However, he becomes MI-7’s top agent by default. As he bungles his way from error to accident, from mishap to tragedy, he mistakenly assassinates the good guys and fails to kill the baddies.
Amongst all this, there is still a mystery to be solved and a crime to prevent. Mysterious Frenchman, Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich), has been financing the restoration of the Crown Jewels, but are his intentions entirely honourable? Where are the recently freed criminals, Vendetta and Klein? And who is the enigmatic, but beautiful, Lorna Campbell?
It soon becomes apparent that the future of the whole of England is at stake, with an evil plot to replace the Queen and change the face of the country. But can such an inept bumbler really sort out the situation? Can English save England?
MY OPINION
The film is very well done and does what it sets out to do. You know it’s not going to be high drama, but if you’re expecting that, you’re watching the wrong film! If you like Rowan Atkinson though, this is a superb vehicle for him and shows off his talents much better than the Bean movie did.
I was also impressed by the ‘Britishness’ of the film. There were few nods to the US market besides the inclusion of Malkovich in one of the main roles. Otherwise, it’s mainly London based with some magnificent views of the capital. The cast also contains a long list of British actors and comedians you will recognise, even if you’re unsure of their names. It’s even directed by Peter Howitt, formerly known as ‘the sexy one in Bread’.
The storyline isn’t anything unique, but then again, which James Bond film is either? At least Johnny English has a slightly new angle and after all – as in a good book – an average plot isn’t as important, if the characters are well done.
There are many memorable characters in the film, even if some of them have only a limited screen time. Ben Miller is excellent as Atkinson’s sidekick, Bough and almost steals a few scenes from his more famous co-star. But I say almost.
Ex-Neighbours star and successful singer, Natalie Imbruglia, provides the eye candy as Lorna Campbell. She does look pretty, gets to do a few kicks and stunts and looks good in leather, but otherwise, is unexciting.
Malkovich hits just the right balance as Sauvage, at once charming and charismatic, but also suspicious and scheming. He seems to control his performance well, keeping it just the right side of camp, not quite hitting the obvious tones of a pantomime villain.
But the film is definitely Rowan Atkinson’s show. He gets to show all facets of his comedic talents here. From the strange facial gurning to the perfectly timed physical comedy and pratfalls, he excels, excites and entertains. While Miller’s Bough gets a share of the best lines, Atkinson is so watchable that he can raise a laugh with a mere raise of one eyebrow.
As well as the comedy, the film is also worth watching for the stunts. In complete contrast to the Matrix/Charlie’s Angels high budget special effects, Johnny English returns to the good old days of stunt doubles and piles of dynamite. This adds realism to the film, which helps its comparison with earlier Bond films.
We do have the compulsory car chase, but with a new angle as this time it features a recovery vehicle and a hearse, but yes, an Aston Martin stars too! Add guns, explosions, fight scenes and parachute jumps and you get the idea. This has all the action you could wish for.
But does it have the romance? Bond films are famous for scantily clad pretty girls wanting to seduce the secret agent. Here, we have Natalie Imbruglia and a deeply felt speech about what she’d like to say and do to Johnny English. As you may expect, it isn’t quite the lust-fuelled bra-fest you’d expect – but is much better for this.
The film is well shot with a great cast and glamorous sets. It begins with an impressive credit sequence and a wonderful theme song by Robbie Williams. From the first moment to the last, we were all enthralled and captivated.
CONCLUSION
It’s silly, very silly. But that isn’t a bad thing. It is, quite simply, a spoof James Bond film, but it is done very well. It is good fun, enjoyable, holds your attention and makes you laugh.
It’s rated PG and is a relatively short film, being just under an hour and a half. It is an ideal movie for the whole family to watch – which is exactly what we did. While my seven-year-old only watched bits of it, the rest of us loved it. Straight afterwards, my eleven-year-old son began to find his favourite scenes to watch again. It is certainly something that can withstand repeated viewing and I should think we’ll be buying the DVD ourselves before long.
Advantages: It was very funny Disadvantages: Story, acting, plot etc
...and chat). So that's where Johnny English fits in to my revision schedule...
The choice was X Men 2, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Johnny English, and you'll know by now which we chose... I knew it was a Bond-esque spy spoof starring Rowan Atkinson, but that was about it. My biggest concern was whether I'd be able to put Mr Bean out of my head - as it happened, not much problem, but I kept thinking of that guy from the Barclaycard adverts!
Director: ... ...I didn't think there were. Johnny English isn't quite like Austin Powers - the latter isn't taken seriously at all, in this the agents are serious but incompetent, and that's the source of the laughs.
One of my friends claimed John Malkovich's French accent was (unintentionally I think) one of the funniest aspects of the film. That may have been so, but there were plenty of moments that had me laughing quite a lot - and most of the rest of the audience ...
a-true-ben 03.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Johnny English (DVD)
Advantages: Moderately funny. Natalie Imbruglia. Disadvantages: Rowan Atkinson (you either love or hate him)
...with the family to watch Johnny English on Easter Sunday. (We had planned to visit an organic farm in County Wicklow, but an unexpected break in the good spell of weather here in Ireland had put the kibosh on that venture.)
~ ~ The beginning of the movie has you wondering, as Atkinson aka Johnny English, breaks into a well-guarded country mansion very much in the style of that denizen of secret agents, the suave and sophisticated Mr. Bond, with ... ...Two of the screenwriters of Johnny English are Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, were also responsible for scripting the two recent Pierce Brosnan Bond movies, “The World Is Not Enough” (1999), and “Die Another Day” (2002).
But instead of grasping the nettle and seriously taking the pi*s, instead they have made a movie that is no more and no less than a vehicle for the somewhat dubious comic talents of its “star”, ...
the_mad_cabbie 21.05.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Johnny English (DVD)
Advantages: Many Laughs, Good Clean Fun Disadvantages: Silly plot, well worn slapstick jokes
...The film opens with Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) as the smooth and sophisticated English spy living a life of intrigue, fast cars and beautiful women but then he wakes up from his dream to reveal the real Johnny English who is a back room boy in MI7 who dreams of being 'Agent one'. When 'Agent One' is unexpectedly killed in action all of the top agents congregate for his funeral at which Johnny English is made responsible for security. This is ... ...(John Malkovich). At the ceremony Johnny bumps into the mysterious Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) who claims to have been involved in the restoration.
However, Johnny's security arrangements go wrong again and the jewels are stolen by a couple of ex-cons. Johnny immediately suspects Sauvage is behind the theft but Pegasus will have none of it believing that Sauvage is a great public figure.
As it turns out Sauvage is a distant relative of the ...
buzios 02.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Johnny English (DVD)
Advantages: Hee hee Mr. Bean, a secret agent...hmmm the irony of it! Disadvantages: Bough should have been played by the actor in the Barclay ads
...As you all might know Johnny English is a bumbling fool who by accident becomes the only man left (and his sidekick) to solve the theft of the Crown Jewels. It all involves Sauvage's plans (played BRILLIANTLY by John Malkovich) to become crowned King of England so he can rule the land and turn it into a huge prison for the world's scum, in order to rid the world of overcrowded prisons (and in return make a hefty profit for himself!)
The film itself ... ...a much better spy then Johnny is but is his loyal and respectful partner. Natalie Imbruglia plays the female spy who eventually wants Johnny to help her avoid catastrophe and together they save the day. With a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. There are some hilarious scenes throughout the film with Rowan Atkinson playing the goofy spy brilliantly, using his Mr Bean persona to his advantage and it seems to work very well for this picture. ...
TimboEngineer 02.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Johnny English (DVD)
Advantages: Rowan Atkinson, it's British, a good cast Disadvantages: A bit patchy, John Malkovitch's French accent
...the day?
Step forward one Johnny English, a deskbound employee of MI7 and the only man for the job. Basically because he is literally the only agent left! English is an incompetent sort with delusions of grandeur who bumbles his way through his job daydreaming of being an heroic James Bond type but in reality is always having his neck saved by his assistant Bough.
English's main suspect is the smooth, suave French business man Pascal Sauvage, a ... ...who falls for our hero Johnny despite his bumbling attempts to solve the case. Rowan Atkinson has enjoyed great success on the big screen in recent years and here puts in another very funny performance, creating a likeable and believable character that could easily appear in a series of movies a la James Bond. This character in fact first appeared on the small screen in a series of credit card adverts to great success and the part in the movie where ...
bigcat 14.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Johnny English (DVD)
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Johnny English, office worker at MI7 gets himself promoted after all the agents are blown up at a funeral. Johnny is assigned the task of protecting the Crown Jewels on the opening night of an exhibition. The gems are stolen from under his nose and now he must use all his resources to locate them and get them back...
Featurette - 1. Making Of, Character profiles, Observation test leading to deleted scenes, DVD-ROM features
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD Description
When the British government fears that a plan is afoot to steal the royal family's beloved crown jewels from their secure home in the Tower of London, secret agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is assigned to the case. Unfortunately, English isn't the British Secret Service's first choice for the job; he's just the only secret agent that is still alive. Even though English dreams of being a suave, debonair agent and has only the best intentions, the hapless Brit continually makes matters worse as he tries to save his country from falling into the clutches of French prison mogul Pascal Sauvage, played by John Malkovich. Among other things, English misuses secret agent gadgets, inadvertently leaks his plans to the bad guys, takes the most inopportune route into Sauvage's castle, and generally makes silly mistakes--and somehow gets away with it. Physical comedian Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, shines in this film, which was directed by Peter Howitt (SLIDING DOORS). JOHNNY ENGLISH also features British comedian Ben Miller as Bough, English's mild-mannered, but surprisingly effective sidekick from the agency. Australian singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia makes her feature film debut as Special Agent Lorna Campbell.
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