MOVIE - JOHNNY ENGLISH - Review Rating $$$$$ $ (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English), John Malkovich (Pascal Sauvage), Natalie Imbruglia (Lorna Campbell), Ben Miller (Bough), Douglas McFerran (Carlos Vendetta), Tim Pigott-Smith (Pegasus) & Kevin McNally (Prime Minister).

DIRECTOR - Peter Howitt (AntiTrust & Sliding Doors)

Mr. Bean does his impression of Inspector Clouseau. This spoof of the spy movies is not nearly as clever as the Austin Powers films but does have a few hilarious moments.

The above comment really does about sum up Johnny English. There is a bit of incongruity in the Johnny English character, who at times displays a degree of intelligence that is somewhat inconsistent with the character's general demeanor, but other than that Johnny English is a lighthearted comedy that provides Atkinson with the opportunity to showcase his excellent physical comedy skills.

The supporting cast is unremarkable except for the noteworthy over the top performance by Malkovich (the diabolical French villain).

The script itself is rather lame but at least its a succinct 87 minutes. Credit must be given to the film's makers for this. Johnny English, unlike so many other movies this summer (most notably The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), suffers from no delusions of grandeur.

Johnny English, despite its shortcomings, will make you laugh.

Running time - 87 minutes

ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS:

Roger Ebert's Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

Johnny English Official Web Site

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