Although I probably ought to have been revising, one of our tutors told us to take at least a whole day off a week. So a couple of weeks ago, I put impending Finals out of my mind, and spent a constructive Saturday (writing music reviews, playing pool, punting, watching a mate's band play Exeter's 'party in the park', Pizza Hut, cinema, George & Davies ice cream and a friends for relatively late night G&T 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: Peter Howitt Cast: Rowan Atkinson .... Johnny English John Malkovich .... Pascal Sauvage Natalie Imbruglia .... Lorna Campbell Ben Miller
.... Bough
PLOT
After a freak accident takes out MI7's top agents, English (Atkinson) is charged with guarding the crown jewels. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) he bungles even this - and has to track a criminal mastermind and save the country from his evil scheme. I can't say much more without giving things away, because ultimately there's not that much plot, and it's less important than the jokes anyway.
END PLOT (yes, that little plot!)
I'm not a Bond fan, so I can't really say if there were any specific references spoofed (I'd have missed them), but 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 too it seemed. Trying not to spoil them, my favourite bits were:
The car on the back of the truck
'Gunther' at the funeral.
The serum mix up.
It's a fairly dumb humour anyone can enjoy, and suitable for all ages. Not quite farcical slapstick (a la Jim Carrey) but you know what to expect of Rowan Atkinson - simple incompetence escalated to the at times side-splittingly funny. At times, rather predictable too, but that didn't seem to matter much.
The plot, as indicated, isn't that special or important. There were one or two interesting twists, but that was about it. The acting was generally satisfactory for such a film - Atkinson being the main star. The main weakness, in my opinion, was Natalie Imbruglia. VERY pretty to look at, but unfortunately she just can't act at all on this evidence (and doesn't get her kit off either!). Generally she simply said her lines, in her Australian accent, and that was it. At first I thought perhaps I might be harsh on a singer trying to get a break into acting (with a poor-selling last album). Then I remembered she technically started out as an actress - but Neighbours hardly counts either... (Although in fairness, she had a hard job with Atkinson as the potential love interest!)
The effects department weren't overworked with CGI as they may be for a summer blockbuster, but the film featuring choreographed fights and other typical spy endeavours (car chases, parachute jumps, etc) all of which I thought were handled well - nothing demanding for a modern effects department, but good enough for a proper action/spy film.
Overall Verdict:
This is by no means a classic film. It did, however, make me laugh more than any film I'd seen in quite a long time. Maybe I shouldn't admit that. I'm almost tempted to say 5* - but that would be rather generous (one of my friends, though he enjoyed it, wanted to take off two for faults). Nevertheless the three of us that saw it all had a good time - and were quoting lines/favourite scenes for the rest of the night. Perhaps that's a sign we need to get out more! The general audience reaction also seemed positive though. So I'm prepared to overlook the limitations of acting/plot/etc - as long as you're not expecting much more than a bit of no brain laughs, this is a good film.
Duration: c.90 minutes Rating: PG Sex: One prominent bottom flash (but Imbruglia fully clothed :( ) Violence: The usual spy fare - guns and unarmed combat - but humorous and no blood. Language: None I recall. http://us.imdb.com/Title?0274166 (currently rated just 5.6/10, so what do I know?)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Fantastic review, I loved this film but it appears that not every liked it as much as I did :)
matties_bitch 14.09.2003 13:10
Wow, you had a busy day. And the film sounds good too! :-D Luv Sue
gemmawild 16.07.2003 11:45
I went to see this movie and it was the worst I'd seen since watching 1 hour photo (Don't even go there...)!
I have to disagree when you say it was funny, it wasn't, it was just daft.
Gem x
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: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Johnny English [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78515453.jpg "Johnny English [DVD] [2003]")
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