Rowan Atkinson stars in a film version of a spy he portrayed in a load of adverts for a credit card in the 1990s, and, as those brief ads were quite entertaining, one would think that this would undeniably translate well into a film. What a shame that it ultimately turned out to be a missed opportunity. Actually, that's a big understatement, as we shall see...
Atkinson plays Johnny English, the secret agent assigned to prevent anyone
from stealing the Crown Jewels. Unfortunately, being him, and this being a
comedy, he stuffs up in spectacular fashion and the jewels disappear. His only real assistance comes from Bough (Ben Miller) and Interpol agent Lorna
Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia). But can they catch prime suspect Frenchman
Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich) and foil his plans?
OK, that's basic plot out of the way. And I do mean 'basic' -- and that's being generous.
'Johnny English' really is a pretty lame effort, and you wonder what kind of
substances the makers were taking when a potentially great idea is reduced to juvenile and/or predictable humour. The sight gags and so forth can be seen a mile off, and the over-use of jokes about bottoms and poo really do not endear grown-ups to this (in fact, when I saw this in the cinema I don't think I heard even so much as a titter from the adults there). And, to be perfectly honest, I really am getting seriously ticked off with the overused idea of spoof spies practicing martial arts moves whilst doing lame Bruce Lee-style wails; THAT GAG'S BEEN
DONE TO DEATH! The film is also undeniably racist and I wonder what certain
countries made of it.
Not even the title song (sung by the one and only Robbie Williams) can save it from being anything more than dumb. It's not awful, and it's not boring, but it could, and should, have been a lot better than it is.
Atkinson plays Johnny English, the secret agent assigned to prevent anyone
from stealing the Crown Jewels. Unfortunately, being him, and this being a
comedy, he stuffs up in spectacular fashion and the jewels disappear. His only real assistance comes from Bough (Ben Miller) and Interpol agent Lorna
Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia). But can they catch prime suspect Frenchman
Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich) and foil his plans?
OK, that's basic plot out of the way. And I do mean 'basic' -- and that's being generous.
'Johnny English' really is a pretty lame effort, and you wonder what kind of
substances the makers were taking when a potentially great idea is reduced to juvenile and/or predictable humour. The sight gags and so forth can be seen a mile off, and the over-use of jokes about bottoms and poo really do not endear grown-ups to this (in fact, when I saw this in the cinema I don't think I heard even so much as a titter from the adults there). And, to be perfectly honest, I really am getting seriously ticked off with the overused idea of spoof spies practicing martial arts moves whilst doing lame Bruce Lee-style wails; THAT GAG'S BEEN
DONE TO DEATH! The film is also undeniably racist and I wonder what certain
countries made of it.
Not even the title song (sung by the one and only Robbie Williams) can save it from being anything more than dumb. It's not awful, and it's not boring, but it could, and should, have been a lot better than it is.