Johnny English | | Cast : | Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia, John Malkovich | | Director : | Peter Howitt (II) | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | July 18, 2003 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 29, 2005 | | Summary | Johnny English is really not that funny | Content
 | Here's why. . .
Forget about Bean, forget about Black Adder. Just look at "Johhny English" and see what it's missing. All comedy contains an element of pain and an element of truth. Bill Cosby's "The Dentist" has all the pain of a visit to the dentist with the truth of knowing that people with numb faces are sometimes hard to understand. The truth is, people in the dentist's chair are vulnerable, pain filled, drooling, babblers. Those kind of truths are universal and Bill Cosby is a comic genius for recognizing that. If you hear a joke and you don't get it or you get it and you don't like it, chances are it's because you don't share the same "truths" as the joke teller.
Like racial jokes. Not funny. Why? Because our ideas of stereotypes and prejudice have changed over the decades. What we thought was true is no longer true anymore.
So what is "untrue" about Johnny English? Like inspector Clueseau he bumbles through his day, his job, and his case. But that is where the similarity ends. Clueseau tries and fails to maintain composure. He's not cool and secretly he knows it. That is a truth we can all agree upon. He goes so far as to drive his perfectly sane boss completely mad. Clueseau is hilarious! Johnny English on the other hand prat falls, bumbles, and arrogantly interlopes his way through scenes. When his faithful sidekick, Bough, saves him from himself, English blames Bough for creating the mess in the first place. He tries (and SUCCEEDS) in catching the cool points after his sidekick saves his bacon.
In real life I don't find people like Johnny English endearing. I find them annoying. That is where English and many people including myself have a break in truth.
There are a few genuinely funny moments but not enough to recommend it to a friend. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 28, 2005 | | Summary | Not exactly a classic, but still fun | Content
| The "spy-spoof" sub-genre has been a regular staple in comedy films for about 40 years. As a result, after seeing Flint, Matt Helm, Austin Powers, Cody Banks and many others too obscure to recount, it would seem that the sub-genre has nothing new to offer. "Johnny English" is another entry into to the field, and while it may not be a particularly original spy-spoof it is still enjoyable, largely because of its excellent casting.
The plot revolves around an evil capitalist (is there any other kind) who is launching a master plan to take over England for a purpose too loony to reveal here. He is played by John Malkovich doing the most over-the-top Frenchman impression since Peter Sellers. Opposing him is Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson), a bureaucrat for the English government who becomes a secret agent when all of England's other secret agents are killed.
The main thrust of the film's humor comes from Atkinson's portrayal. Johnny has no training, no talent and isn't particularly smart. Everyone can see this, except Johnny himself. For example, there is a running gag about Johnny being unable to effectively use his gun. In one scene he field strips it and reassembles it, proudly holding it up to reveal he has forgotten to re-insert the trigger.
Despite his shortcommings, Johnny is completely unflappable, in the wondefully stereotypically-English manner that Atkinson so masterfully portrays. As the screw-ups mount one just wants to shake our hero and scream, "get a clue." And still our hero glosses over his errors and carries on.
As another entry into the overcrowded field of spy-spoofs, "Johnny English" doesn't exactly stand out as brilliant. Still, it is worth a rent and a watch, especially to Rowan Atkinson fans. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 07, 2005 | | Summary | Johnny ENglish UNDERRATED!!!! | Content
| This is the funniest movie Ive seen in a looonnnnnn time and Im a difficult one to crack. Highly recommended. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 06, 2005 | | Summary | Bean's been better | Content
| As a spy spoof this movie started pretty well. Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) accidentally maneuvers his way into a top secret agent assignment to protect the crown jewels. Misadventure after bumbling misadventure follows, including some very funny action sequences involving jumping out of airplanes and rappelling down buildings, and at times Atkinson is as debonair as the original and only 007, Sean Connery - at least until his next pratfall ten seconds later.
Atkinson refines his Mr. Bean role, and his performance is really the best part of the movie. He's funnier without dialogue, but does what he can with the clumsy script. Natalie Imbruglia does a reasonable spy babe, and hopefully won't be "torn" between singing and acting careers. John Malkovich becomes a nominee for the "What the heck am I doing in this movie, and why do I stink?" award - he plays a French rich guy with royal ambitions.
The ending could have used some more work, and was the weakest part of the movie. As a friend of mine would say "That doesn't even make any sense" - even in comparison to the rest of the movie.
Amanda Richards, June 6, 2005
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| Rating | | | Date | May 14, 2005 | | Summary | is this supposed to be hilarious? | Content
| there were only a few parts that were funny. utterly disappointing, even with Rowan Atkinson in it. |
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