A hugely redundant spy spoof.
Johnny English (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:115
Fresh:38
Rotten:77
Average Rating:4.8/10
Consensus: A tame spy spoof that elicits infrequent chuckles.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for comic nudity, some crude humor and language
Runtime: 88 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Jul 18, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $27,972,410
Synopsis: When the British government fears that a plan is afoot to steal the royal family's beloved crown jewels from their secure home in the Tower of London, secret agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson)... When the British government fears that a plan is afoot to steal the royal family's beloved crown jewels from their secure home in the Tower of London, secret agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is assigned to the case. Unfortunately, English isn't the British Secret Service's first choice for the job; he's just the only secret agent that is still alive. Even though English dreams of being a suave, debonair agent and has only the best intentions, the hapless Brit continually makes matters worse as he tries to save his country from falling into the clutches of French prison mogul Pascal Sauvage, played by John Malkovich. Among other things, English misuses secret agent gadgets, inadvertently leaks his plans to the bad guys, takes the most inopportune route into Sauvage's castle, and generally makes silly mistakes--and somehow gets away with it. Physical comedian Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, shines in this film, which was directed by Peter Howitt (SLIDING DOORS). JOHNNY ENGLISH also features British comedian Ben Miller as Bough, English's mild-mannered, but surprisingly effective sidekick from the agency. Australian singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia makes her feature film debut as Special Agent Lorna Campbell. [More]
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller, John Malkovich
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller, John Malkovich
Director: Peter Howitt
Director: Peter Howitt
Screenwriter: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, William Davies
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Mark Huffam
Composer: Edward Shearmur
Studio: Universal Pictures
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Reviews for Johnny English
Johnny is never as inspired as the best moments of the Powers movies, but it's cleaner and more consistent than they are.
Johnny English may well be too specifically British, and too slight, to connect strongly with audiences, but it's a pleasant enough diversion.
The spy-spoof genre is old hat ... but Atkinson is such an inventive, endearing clown that one doesn't mind.
A good bet for Bean fans, though for others, it's modest pleasures will play better on video.
A slight tee-hee of a comedy that, like a bargain wine, induces a wince on first sip but finishes well.
The film manages the rare trick of improving as it unrolls from the utterly putrid to the barely tolerable.
It's all safe, predictable stuff -- so predictable that the only people who won't have things figured out 10 minutes into the film are those who left after five.
Johnny English, despite its contemporary-sounding anti-French cracks, could easily have been made 20 years ago. Might have seemed better, and more fresh, if it had.
A spy spoof that makes you pine for the days of Leslie Nielsen and Spy Hard.
There are perhaps 12 minutes of genuine gut-clutching hilarity spread throughout Johnny English's hour and 25 minutes.
Fans of Atkinson should be warned that there's far more comic inventiveness in a half hour of Mr. Bean than in this whole tepid mess.
While you don't have to be a super sleuth to see the over-obvious gags coming, Atkinson's elastic mugging usually pulls 'em through.
There's a lot of entertainment, especially for families, in Johnny English.
If Johnny English doesn't rollick with laughs it at least generally frolics with good-natured fun.
Atkinson carries out his spy-spoof mission with candor and grace, or as much grace as a man can maintain while satirizing the Trainspotting climb up through a soiled potty.
Johnny English plays like a tired exercise, a spy spoof with no burning desire to be that, or anything else.
Latest News for Johnny English
May 04, 2007:
The Weekly Ketchup: Dunst Forgives Self For Bad Acting, Downey Reflects On "Iron Man," New "Magneto" Director, And More!
In this week's Ketchup, Kirsten Dunst talks about the woes of blue-screen theatrics, Robert Downey Jr. discusses his "Iron Man" pedigree, and the new... More...
April 18, 2007:
Kate Beckinsale as "Barbarella"?
This word arrives by way of a British gossip column, so you know what to do with it, but here's the dirt: Kate Beckinsale is apparently being considered for the lead role in... More...
April 11, 2006:
Get Ready for the Return of ... "Bean"
You knew it was only a matter of time before Rowan Atkinson came back with another "Mr. Bean" movie. (Anyone out there see Johnny English? Sheesh.) And today Variety... More...
March 13, 2003:
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