Johnny English Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)July 22nd, 2003
JOHNNY ENGLISH
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
If you are a fan of Rowan Atkinson's brand of slapstick humor, then just perhaps JOHNNY ENGLISH is the film for you. Even if you've liked his performances in such films as BEAN, you'll probably need to see JOHNNY ENGLISH only on a day when your silliness quotient is through the roof. You'll want to choose a day in which the mere thought of a pratfall sends you into nervous giggles because JOHNNY ENGLISH, a film that feels like it was designed for the single digit set, lays it on awfully thick for anyone who has graduated from grade school.
Atkinson plays Johnny English, the only British agent left after a bomb destroys all the other agents. Trying his best to be a likable doofus, Atkinson plays his part with utter confidence as a super sophisticated James Bond without a scintilla of sense. When the crown jewels are stolen right in front of his eyes, he is unable to ascertain how the thieves entered the building. Everyone but him sees the big hole in the ground.
The gorgeous Natalie Imbruglia plays the Bond girl part, except her character has infinitely more brains than English. Actually, everyone is smarter than our would-be lovable idiot. John Malkovich is there to ham it up as Pascal Sauvage, a Frenchman with designs on the English throne.
If the theater's air-conditioning is working and it's hot outside, spending some time with English isn't a bad idea. Otherwise, there are undoubtedly many better activities to occupy your time.
JOHNNY ENGLISH runs 1:28. It is rated PG for "comic nudity, some crude humor and language" and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
