EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Pjtaylor-96-138044 There aren't really any characters, or even any caricatures, in this relatively limp spy satire, meaning that most of the jokes simply fall flat because there isn't a lens through which to view them. Even when they do manage to evoke a chuckle, it's usually a bemused one, because it's clear that much of the picture should be funny but just isn't and indeed that a majority of it shouldn't work but just does, to its own somewhat handicapped extent, thanks only to its physically brilliant star. The whole flick is like a friend that you like but you're not sure why, that guy who turns up at parties and makes awkward jokes that you smile at because you feel like you should, and as a result I found myself smiling more in anticipation of the gags than in the wake of them, reluctant to admit that this childhood classic of mine might not be as good as I initially thought, but also not entirely surprised when I came to the conclusion that it really isn't and that I am strangely okay with that. 5/10

adonis98-743-186503 After a sudden attack on the MI5, Johnny English, Britain's most confident yet unintelligent spy, becomes Britain's only spy. Johnny English is a parody of the 007 James Bond movies and it stars Rowan Atkinson as English and John Malkovich as Pascal Sauvage, the Greedy Frenchman. The film has some hilarious moments like that scene where he was covered in poo or even him singing in front of the camera my only issue with the first film was Malkovich's character although he is really good in the movie his motivations lack anything new he is just another villain that tries to take over the world and in the end he basically explains his evil plan on his own without any evidence from any of our main heroes but other than that this movie is funny and terrific thanks to Atkinson's charm and talent something that has been lost today since the only thing we get is Melissa McCarthy falling from the stairs and Adam Sandler trying to make westerns sad but true. Johnny English gets an 9/10 and a A-

Uriah43 After all of the other agents in MI-7 are killed the British government calls upon the services of "Johnny English" (Rowan Atkinson) to investigate a case which their top spy was working on prior to his demise. Assisting him is his loyal backup "Bough" (Ben Miller) who is as adept in the secret agent business as Johnny English is incompetent. In any case, Johnny English's first assignment is to ensure that the newly polished Crown Jewels are kept safe and secure so that the Queen is able to inspect them. When they subsequently stolen Johnny English leaps in to action. Or in his case bumbles into it. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that although it was quite predictable and somewhat uneven it was still rather funny all the same. That said, while Ben Miller and Natalie Imbruglia (as "Lorna Campbell") certainly turned in credible performances, it was Rowan Atkinson who clearly carried this film in spite of the weaknesses mentioned earlier. In any case, I rate this movie as slightly above average.

Python Hyena Johnny English (2003): Dir: Peter Howitt / Cast: Rowan Atkinson, John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller, Oliver Ford Davies: Spoof of a sub genre that has been spoofed many times. The writers didn't hurt themselves on plot ideas so they came up with a concept that is as old as rocks. It regards the stealing of the Queen's crown jewels that agent Johnny English was suppose to protect. He is the only agent available because the others died in an explosion. The rest involves English and his constant miscalculations and mishaps. Conclusion is effective due to timing and directing by Peter Howitt. He previously made Sliding Doors as well as the idiotic Antitrust. Rowan Atkinson has good intentions but he mugs every scene to the point where the jokes misfire. John Malkovich as the French heir is uninteresting, which is unfortunate considering the quality of actor Malkovich is. Natalie Imbruglia as a female agent is useless because her role renders her merely as an attraction. Ben Miller plays English's smart sidekick in what is clearly a reference to the superior Pink Panther films. Oliver Ford Davies plays an Archbishop who manages to fall victim to the prat falls of a bad script as well. The film could have examined the idea of multiple agents but everything including the phony sets is tiring until Atkinson succeeds in burying the idea that was already buried. Score: 4 / 10