Johnny English

Review by James Anthony

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Into a long line of spy take-offs comes Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson), an Inspector Clouseau-like secret agent who is promoted beyond his abilities when every other operative in the British Secret Service is wiped out.

His job, and that of his sidekick Bough (Ben Miller), is to save Britain from a horror beyond horrors … no, not republicanism, but a French king!!!!!

It seems that the British crown is being sought after by a French tycoon called Pascal Sauvage - a ferociously over-the-top John Malkovich - and he will stop at nothing until he can bring his frightful post-Liz Britain into being.

As you would expect there are a lot of stuff-ups on English's part and it is really only the ability of his deputy who helps him bumble through.

Oh, Natalie Imbruglia is in it too, as a woman of mystery called Lorna. She helps out a lot, although she is never given the lines to become a major part of the movie.

While generally good the video-transfer of this secret agent lark is, dare we say it, hurt by aliasing - and not of names. It is a little too obvious at times for my liking. The sound is very good.

Johnny English is not as funny as it should have been - given Mr Atkinson's brilliance, but it is amusing. If you are a devotee of Old Rubber Face then give it a go.

PS: Natalie Imbruglia is in it too!

Conclusion: Movie 65% Extras 65%

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