Johnny English (2003)

He may not command Jim Carrey’s salary or draw crowds like Adam Sandler, but Rowan Atkinson is arguably the funniest man working in movies today. It’s certainly difficult to think of another actor who possesses such a wide range of comedic talents. In addition to his flair for physical humor (his antics as the accident-prone Mr. Bean would make Charlie Chaplin proud), Atkinson is armed with a razor-sharp wit and a terrific sense of timing. In the popular ’80s BBC series “Blackadder,” he delivered some of the funniest putdowns ever heard on television. As a movie actor, he’s carved out a reputation as an ace scene-stealer in ensemble comedies, particularly those written by longtime collaborator Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Tall Guy). Having said that I'm a Brit, and I can see why a lot of Americans are going to be scratching their heads over this movie!

Aside from the feature-length version of Bean (Yawn!) Atkinson has never really tackled a leading role on the big screen. Johnny English represents his first non-Bean star turn off the telly and it’s an odd way to start; after all, in the wake of the latest Austin Powers flick and Agent Cody Banks, the secret agent comedy seems like a genre on its last legs. To be honest, there’s really nothing here that seeks to disabuse that notion, either. On a writing and directing level, Johnny English is pretty good, but what makes this start shine is the stars themselves, who are able to wring more than a few laughs out of this rather staid and dull scenario.

Leading the charge, of course, is Atkinson, who (literally) throws himself into the part of Johnny English, a bumbling operative for Britain’s elite intelligence agency, MI7. When all of the top agents are killed under, (ahem!) mysterious circumstances, English is reluctantly promoted to active duty. His first assignment is to watch over the crown jewels at a function celebrating their restoration. Naturally, the jewels are stolen from right under his nose by Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich, hamming it up in truly farcically grand style), a respected French businessman and friend of the Queen. Although English suspects Sauvage immediately, no one else believes him except for his trusty sidekick Bough (Ben Miller) and sexy Interpol agent Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia). Working without official sanction, the trio must find a way to recover the crown jewels from Sauvage before he can use them to accomplish his master plan—being crowned King of England.

Johnny English was released earlier this year in Europe, where it quickly became a box-office smash. The same result is unlikely to happen in America though, if only because Atkinson remains something of an unknown to American moviegoers. Even if he were as famous as Sandler or Carrey, however, the movie would still have trouble drawing a sizeable crowd. While the filmmakers have tried hard to appeal to the widest possible audience, their sense of humor is unmistakably Eurocentric and British especially. Gags about the royal family, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the French simply don’t resonate as strongly here. (Well, okay, in light of recent world events, the anti-French jokes will probably go over very well with a certain segment of the U.S. population.) Given that, one wishes the screenwriters had allowed themselves to infuse the movie with more of that satirical bite the British are known for. Johnny English contains far too many toilet jokes and broad sight gags, which have obviously been included to make the film saleable to international markets.

Fortunately, Atkinson is on hand to keep the laughs flowing. Whether he’s intoning nonsensical metaphors or getting his tie caught in the conveyer belt at a sushi restaurant, the actor gives his all to the part. In the movie’s best scene, English accidentally injects himself with a serum that reduces his body to rubber. Watching Atkinson wage a war with his failing arms, legs and mouth is one of the funniest things you’re likely to see this summer. He’s backed by a solid supporting cast, particularly Miller, who manages to steal a scene or two himself.

Had it modeled itself after “Blackadder” instead of Austin Powers, Johnny English would undoubtedly have been a much wittier and more memorable movie. As it is, it’s still a great way to spend 90 minutes, but you can’t help wishing the film were as smart as its star. Still, in a summer filled with fast cars, rowdy pirates and a not-so-jolly green giant, you have to take your laughs where you can.

About me... Hi, I'm Clint, and I have been asked to do a movie review column for AsiantTS.com, or more specifically the magazine that accompanies it: The Clubhouse. I am a writer based in Asia and Europe, and I have been widely published worldwide. I enjoy watching movies, and have written at length on this genre for many years.