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Johnny English (Widescreen Edition)

Johnny English (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It is so hilarious,you won't wanna miss it.
Review: The plot is so funny you would laugh soHard. I think you would enjoy it. Mr.Bean plays Johnny English himself. John Malkovich Plays the villian. He wants to be king of England. So he can turn England into prision. Natilie Imbruglia plays the Bond girl of English. English is trying to get the stuff that Malkovich's men had stolen from a party. English always at night practices to be in action. Mr. Bean I think deserves all of the credit to make this whole movie really very funny.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: His name is English... Johnny English
Review: In my review of Bruce Dessau's biography on Rowan Atkinson, I mentioned how the comedian alienated many Brits and critics with the overbaked-by-Hollywood Bean movie. Well, he has triumphed with the James Bond spoof Johnny English. If this movie isn't enough to convince his countrymen that he is going back to his roots, nothing will. I, being an humble Anglophilic American, am convinced and cheer him on.

After all British special agents are assassinated, it's up to Johnny English, originally an ungainly desk jockey whose closest work in espionage involved handing agents their mission files. This is a chance for him to fulfill his dream of being a suave agent, and he is chosen by Pegasus, the code name of the MI7 director, to protect the Crown Jewels at a party held by Pascal Sauvage, a Frenchman who has designed many prisons in Europe. Well, guess what happens? Oh, he meets and falls for Lorna Campbell, played by Natalie Imbruglia. Their second meeting at a sushi shop is hilarious.

He is assisted in this by Bough, his harried co-worker. Much of the gags involve gadgets misfiring under English's handling them. Others involve English's bumbling at the expense of other people. While tracking down the perpetrators in a sham hearse, he mistakenly follows a real hearse en route to the cemetery. He terrorizes the mourners, even the widow. Fortunately, by the time he realizes his mistake, Bough rescues him in time by making everyone think English is an escaped mental patient who was accidentally released early--"his release date is 2028." English catches on and not only feigns a mental case, he even utters indistinct guttural sounds that left me smiling.

Rowan Atkinson plays the title character in a more reserved manner. There are none of the high impact facial aerobics that carried the Bean movie more than the story. However, the funniest sequence involves Johnny English doing a funky dance and jamming to Abba's "Does Your Mother Know." And a poopoo joke is actually quite funny.

John Malkovich has the most thankless role as Pascal Sauvage, affecting an exaggerated French accent and sporting bad hair and unappealing makeup. Then again, this is Rowan's second starring vehicle, so what else can we say?

And pretty Natalie Imbruglia (Lorna) proves she's just as good an actress as she is a singer. Then again, she starred in The Neighbors soap opera in her native Australia. Her slender figure, pointed chin, and raven black hair really highlight her competent, unruffled performance.

Veteran British actors Tim Piggott-Smith (Pegasus) and Oliver Ford Davies (the Archbishop) appear, the latter having some really humiliating moments, including the tattoo gag lifted from The Naked Gun 2.5.

The laughs are in the vein of Black Adder, i.e. the best laid plans of mice and English, and Fawlty Towers-like misunderstandings and mishaps rather than the silent comedy of Mr. Bean. There is an in-joke in the movie. This movie is touted as a James Bond spoof, right? Well, there is a Bond that appears in this film--four of them. I'm of course referring to the female techno/classical string quartet Bond, who play their tune "Kismet" at Sauvage's soiree.

At one point in this movie, Johnny says resignedly, "I'm a spent force." That's not the case with Rowan Atkinson, who comes up with a nice winner and showing that's he's a tried and true Englishman, to Queen and country, to the core. Those who are turned off the juvenile mugging of Austin Powers and want something less loud, less gross, and more reserved, Johnny English is just the ticket.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A mediocre movie by an excellent comedian
Review: I am a big fan of Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean). I have seen his TV sitcom and his stand-up comedy shows. I hate to say that this movie fell below my expectation gauging from his past movies/shows. There are a some hilarious moments at times, but some of the comic scenes were predictable. Mr. Atkinson's movie usually start with him being a silly and childish character which would got him into some sticky situations. But he always ended the movie by solving the problem with his unique, smart, creative, and hilarious way; in other word the Rowan Atkinson's way. That is one component that I feel was missing from the ending of Johnny English.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Johnny English needed more of John Malkovich
Review: I have often admired Rowan Atkinson in my living room. He has a riveting presence and is quite talented in the slapstick manner of a Charlie Chaplin. Unfortunately, the same magic is not evident when transferred onto the large theater screen. Atkinson does not suffice in the lead role of Johnny English. This James Bond spoof fails every time John Malkovich is not included in a scene. The latter actor portraying the laughably sinister French businessman, Pascal Sauvage, who wants to become King of England is hysterical and provides the right type of balance for this role. Natalie Imbruglia does a serviceable job as Lorna Campbell, the love interest of our not too bright secret agent.

The scatological jokes were over the top and I personally could have done without these yucky attempts at humor. Also, Johnny English is far too slow paced and is about eight minutes too long. I can only give this film three stars. You might wish to wait until it is released in dvd format.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Black Adder Meets Bond
Review: First of all, this film is great! I'm sick to death of people comparing it unfavorably to Austin Powers. It's an apples to oranges comparison, sort of like comparing the Three Stooges to Monty Python. The Three Stooges are funny, but they never could have given us the Dead Parrot Sketch or the Spanish Inquisition, nor should they have.

Similarly, Johnny English is not Austin Powers and is not meant to be Austin Powers.

Austin Powers is an example of a broader American style of humor directed at the whole English spy genre.

Johnny English is an example of English wit with the same subject, but the approach is completely different.

English wit is subtle, with the exception of Benny Hill, and Johnny English is a brilliant example of it.

The only reason I'm not giving this film 5 stars is a poorly done scene involving a funeral that goes on way too long and violates a couple of the character relationship rules that had been established earlier in the film.

Aside from an occasional weak scene, if you loved Black Adder you'll love this film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Yes, another Spy Master Spoof makes us chuckle
Review: Rowen Atkinson is Johnny English, a man working at MI7 (though parts of the movie say MI5) as support to the field agents. When all the agents die, he is given the opportunity to protect the Crown Jewels, which get stolen from under his nose. He is then assigned to find out who stole the Jewels and retrieve them. Followed by his assistant, whom Johnny is constantly giving secret agent advise to, he embarks on this mission.

Granted, this movie is another spoof of the James Bond movies, but while others compare it to Austin Powers with a little Bean and The Naked Gun mixed in, I would prefer to compare it to the Pink Panther/Inspector Clouseau movies - only much funnier. Now, mind you, I rarely see comedy films in the theatre and most comedies in my opinion are almost never really funny, the films may get at best a smile out of me with their humor. This movie actually had some lines that made me chuckle (the Austin Powers movies got me to smile). While most of the movie's plot is predictable, the scene where Johnny finally gets his man, Pascal Sauvage (played by John Malkovich) is a refreshing twist on the roles of England's government. The only thing that comes to mind of what I didn't like in this film was John Malkovich's very horrible attempt at creating a Frenchman's accent while speaking English. The best he was able to give sounded more Creole, or Cajun, which while the latter is a dialect of French and both are common in Louisiana, they are not true to the country he is supposed to represent. What I thought was very interesting and even a spoof in its own right, was that the main title theme was performed by a group called Bond.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Either laugh out loud or slow
Review: Rowan Atkinson has been a staple of British comedy for over 20 years. He plays a most familar character to people familar to him, the bumbler who tries to bluff his way through things.

Many of the scenes in this movie are predicatable but funny many others were just out there and laugh out loud VERY laugh out loud. Where I was the crowd went from one extreme to another.

It isn't a movie to be seen twice, the predicatable laughs are still laughs but the laugh out loud scenes are just not to be missed.

worth the money, not sure if its a buyer

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Laugh
Review: Johnny English is a great movie that all the family should enjoy. Although younger children might not get the more subtle jokes, anyone over the age of 8 is sure to be laughing their heads off at times. Rowan Atkinson does a great job at portraying a character who is not stupid, silly, or ignorent, but in his own league. English and his sidekick Bough (pronounced Boff) are a great time and are like the complete opposite of James Bond. This really made a good change from the pathetic slapstick comedies that we get too much of today. Instead of leaving the movie theatre feeling like you've wasted two hours, you will leave Johnny English after 90 minutes feeling in a great mood!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Fun...Funny Movie that won't disappoint
Review: Rowan Atkinson's Mr. BEAN is acquired taste in humor. If you like Bean,you'll probably find JOHNNY ENGLISH(often)hysterical.Good news is if you're not BEANophile, you'll still find much to enjoy in this well produced, handsome-looking parody on James Bond(Inspector Clouseau;NAKED GUN/Frank Drebbin; Austin Powers;Derek Flint etc).In NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN Atkinson essayed role of MI6 Bahama Station liaison,Nigel Small-Fawcett. Next to suave Sean Connery in final role as 007, Atkinson's moment as stiff-upper-lipped bureaucrat was(intentionally)satirically right-on, and amusing in best traditions of self-parody found in British humor. Nigel was spy wanna-be; the role was played with commendable earnestness. Ditto JOHNNY ENGLISH.Though not as daffy or(oxymoronically)suave/self-assured as Clouseau, Johnny is deadly serious foe of Enemies of England(if he could only get his chance).The story has more in common with classic SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY than farcical(in my estimate offensively vulgar)Austin Power fantasies. JOHNNY ENGLISH is funny but also...at key moments...touching.The man wants to be heroic(like most men)but finds it takes more than gadgetry and good intentions. Natalie Imbruglia is genuine Mrs. Peel/007 heroine who helps our man Johnny accomplish his quest...

Woah! It's not a serious movie. But it recalls Michael Caine/Ben Kingsley WITHOUT A CLUE parody where Sherlock Holmes is an idiot and Dr.Watson is hero(mythically battling Professor Moriarty) with tremendous opportunities for irony and some gut-busting laughs. 007 is now a mythical character(Sean Connery is again essaying Arthurian persona of Britain's knight-heroes in THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN). Rowan Atkinson is talented actor who--much like Peter Sellers--is a master of controlled lunacy. Most aren't heroes but might like to be. In one telling sequence, JE is "playing" JB in front of the mirror and thinks he's too cool for school. The funny thing is there's much more JOHNNY ENGLISH-fool in most of us than 007-cool. This is what makes a very hip(occasionally very funky in the best sense)movie both FUN and FUNNY...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It's funny, but not great(Virtually Spoiler Free review)
Review: This film has already been released here in Colombia, which is weird since usually films arrive here late rather than before they are released in U.S.A. I saw two days ago and well, I have a things to say to the audiences from the states. You could say this film is a mixture between Naked Gun, Bean and Austin Powers. One thing I found negative about it is that it copies jokes from various comedies, I don't want to be a spoiler so I won't say which, but some of the jokes will seem very familiar. But the good thing about it is that is not a waste of a film, and Rowan Atkinson proves that he can also be funny talking. I think he did quite well as the other James Bond spoof. He is not as exagerated as Mike Myers, so this film is different. And he managed to stay away from the Bean persona, something I was afraid of. The plot is as simple as Bond plots are today, only with various comedy twists. Johnny English starts as Monneypenny, he is just a in this particular film, MI7 clerk, until every agent is wiped off(funny situation that will not be revealed here) so he has to take on the biggest mission that was pending, which involves the crown jewels and a french tycoon in the sort of Goldfinger played by John Malkovich, who did his best to perform the character with dignity, and I think he escapes from stinking by the fingernails. The film is carried out just like Bond movies, the agent meets the girl, the villan, something happens, he gets close to something, he fails, he gets close to the girl, the bad guy almost makes it, but fails and gets busted, endind with the agent and the girl. Very straightforward, but every situation is filled not to the brim, which I think was the smart thing to do, with funny situations. And although many of the jokes are rip-offs, Atkinson managed to make them his own. The film is very short, but feels longer, I don't know why. The end is rather stupid, but I admit that it stirrs laughter, not because of the situation but because you can't help but crack up with Atkinson's face. I don't think many people will like, unlike the Bean skits and the film, I think some will find it stupid and unnecessary, but nevertheless, I think is a fun movie, and if somehow people get tired of or don't want to see either Matrix Reloaded, or Hulk, or X2, or T3, or any of the other box-office killers, try to tke about and hour and twenty minutes to see a silly but funny little comedy that spoofs James Bond. I don't think it will be a hit, and if it is, oh the humanity, because it's far from being great, but it's worth the money, specially in summer vacation when there is basically "nothing" to do. See all of the other summer pop corn movies before this one, otherwise you will probably hate it beacuse you could have seen something else. But it won't be a total waste of money, you will laugh because it's not at all a stupid teen flick with disgusting sexual situations and fluids, sounds and smells. It has it it's own very silly and simple way, integrity and dignity, it's hard to find, but it is there. One star for Atkinson's performance, the other for being balance in it's jokes, the other because it doesn't fall apart like many comedies, in stupidity and desperate necesity for a laugh, and the last one because it basically does not totaly stink.


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