Johnny English (2003)

So much average

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Why on earth is this film rated so low?Its an excellent comedy in its on right, in its own style. More for a younger audience, yes, but that shouldn't affect an objective rating.My rating is based on the first time I saw it in the cinema, aged 14. A silly film, yes, but not a significant step down in depth/quality on blackadder, for instance- as some claim.Criticisms in the bad reviews are silly, irrelevant and non objective.

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.

Johnny English is what it promises to be – an amusing and light-heard film. But what would you expect from Rowan Atkinson, the actor in Mr Bean? There are some strikingly funny scenes in the movie. But be prepared for some outlandish humour and chauvinistic jokes. But be prepared also for 007 and Austin Powers-style gadgets, which (I hope) you'll also laugh at, as I did.However, there are some weaker aspects to the film. For example, the movie portrays Chinese people as the bad guys and, in a way, vilifies them (though there are certainly bad apples in the Chinese race). Another one is that thinking logically, you would find some scenes improbable.In short, though this movie was a bit short of in-depth food for thought, it was a quite funny and light-hearted comedy. Very suitable if you're just looking for an hour or so of laughter and nothing in-depth.

Johnny English is what it promises to be – an amusing and light-heard film. But what would you expect from Rowan Atkinson, the actor in Mr Bean? There are some strikingly funny scenes in the movie. But be prepared for some outlandish humor and chauvinistic jokes. But be prepared also for 007 and Austin Powers-style gadgets, which (I hope) you'll also laugh at, as I did.However, there are some weaker aspects to the film. For example, the movie portrays Chinese people as the bad guys and, in a way, vilifies them (though there are certainly bad apples in the Chinese race). Another one is that thinking logically, you would find some scenes improbable.In short, though this movie was a bit short of in-depth food for thought, it was a quite funny and light-hearted comedy. Very suitable if you're just looking for an hour or so of laughter and nothing in-depth.