Johnny English (2003) Review

Distributors: Universal Studios, Studio Canal, Working Title

Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia, John Malkovich, Ben Miller 

Director: Peter Howitt

Screenplay: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, William Davies 

Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Mark Huffman

Running Time: 1hr 24m

Release Date: April 6th 2003 (UK)

Rating: PG

Rowan Atkinson is an odd actor. He's best known for playing 'Mr Bean' who is a complete idiot to the point where he can't form coherent words yet strangely, he's funnier when he plays clever people. His best role is 'Blackadder' because Atkinson suits the smarmy know-it-all better than his idiot role and 'Blackadder' is funnier for it. 'Johnny English' is a mixture of both as he is a complete idiot but he is also able to talk fluently and at least thinks he's clever. Does this work? Yes... and no.

What's the story? Johnny English (Atkinson) becomes the last British spy in MI7 as the others are killed in an explosion but unfortunately, he's a complete idiot. However, when the crown jewels are stolen English is sent to investigate and suspects that French businessman, Pascal Savauge (Malkovich, is behind it all. With the help of his partner Bough (Miller) and a foreign spy called Lorna Campbell (Imbrglia), English must stop Savauge from taking over England as king.

The main problem with this movie is that Johnny English himself is an insufferable twit. He acts like he's a clever spy yet his associates and even the villain often get the better of him through his misguided judgement. He does so many stupid things it makes you wonder why he's still in MI7, or how he even got there in the first place. He also allows the villains to get away from multiple occasions and his absolute worst moment is where he tries to denounce Savauge at a ceremony which is painful to watch as he constantly humiliates himself. What does work about his character is his actor, Rowan Atkinson as his delivery is near perfect particularly with the slapstick. Yes he is better when he acts clever but when he is required to play an idiot, he needs to go all out and the scenes where he does are just hilarious.

It's a good job the delivery works because the jokes are really predictable. Some of it works such as Atkinson's slapstick, how he works off the other characters and even some funny punchlines. The problem is that the punchlines take a while to build up and by then, you've already figured it out. For example, there's this one scene where English and Bough chase down some villains driving a hearse. By that description, you will probably work out the punchline yet the movie takes so long to tell it and it is English's response that makes the joke work at all. However what makes it more annoying is English's stupidity as he doesn't realise what is really going on which makes the joke drag out longer. It's frustrating because the punchline is funny but the movie takes a while to get there despite the audience knowing what it is.

The rest of the plot is hit and miss as well. There are moments of cliché such as the misunderstanding that causes the characters to mope and dope which adds nothing to the story so it feels like a waste of time. However, there are moments that are unique such as the villains plan and how English stops him which is so bizarre it's genuinely funny. On the flipside, the plot can be so bizarre that you would have to suspend your disbelief. This is especially true of the villain’s plan which is really implausible when you think about it.

The villain himself is engaging however and that's largely due to Malkovich's performance. Usually in everything he's in he plays his roles so uniquely it's hard not to like him and it is no different here. He just hams it up as a French Bond villain that he usually steals every scene he's in. English's sidekicks are good as well. Ben Miller plays the keen yet serious Bough which makes him a likable and Natalie Imbruglia brings a lot to a role which is actually quite bland but all three of them make great straight characters to work off Atkinson's bumbling antics.

There are some decent set pieces as well including a particularly thrilling chasse involving a tow truck. There are some decent locations in France and Westminster Abbey and the music fits the tone well with the main title song well performed by Robbie Williams which gives the movie a Bond-esque feel. However, the pacing does feel rushed at times as the movie feels too short and the reason why English is the only spy left is just squeezed in the opening 5 minutes.

'Johnny English' is a hit and miss film. The jokes are either funny or insufferable. The characters are either really good or really bad and the plot is either clichéd and dull or out there and implausible. It just feels like a mess which is only held together by the actors who are really good in the film. It's harmless enough to watch but some moments really, really die.

'Johnny English' gets 2 and a half faulty guns out of 5