2011, Universal Pictures
Live action
Rating: PG
Approx. 100 mins.
THE STORY:
After being disgraced on a job in Africa, Johnny English spends years in intense spiritual and martial arts training in the Himalayas. He eventually returns to his post at MI-7, where he is called upon to protect the Premier of China and himself from the mysterious Vortex organization.
Johnny begins to unravel the mystery of who is involved, but cannot admit to himself who the MI-7 mole is. Eventually, he comes to his senses, roots out the mole and saves the Premier.
Johnny begins to unravel the mystery of who is involved, but cannot admit to himself who the MI-7 mole is. Eventually, he comes to his senses, roots out the mole and saves the Premier.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- ass
- damn
- some sexual innuendo
VIOLENCE:
- characters are shot with bullets and darts
- no gore
TEACHING POINTS:
- Uh... no
THE UPSHOT:
Rowan Atkinson is the consummate jerk/idiot who, despite his overwhelming lack of appeal, manages to win us over. He is an amazing physical comedian who is never afraid to look ridiculous if it will get a laugh.
Or so I thought.
Watching this made me wonder whether Atkinson might be going through a bit of a mid-life crisis which has led him to want to appear heroic. There are points at which he is hilarious as a wannabe suave agent who comes across more as an accident prone buffoon. But most of the time he is altogether too cool.
I also found it odd that Gillian Anderson spent so much of the film leaning over desks and the like, demonstrating some very sophisticated cleavage. Two steps forward: woman in position of supreme authority. One step back: she has to be more sexy than authoritarian.
Both the 7 year-old in the room and the grown ups were disappointed. Glimmers of goodness that just don't glow.
Or so I thought.
Watching this made me wonder whether Atkinson might be going through a bit of a mid-life crisis which has led him to want to appear heroic. There are points at which he is hilarious as a wannabe suave agent who comes across more as an accident prone buffoon. But most of the time he is altogether too cool.
I also found it odd that Gillian Anderson spent so much of the film leaning over desks and the like, demonstrating some very sophisticated cleavage. Two steps forward: woman in position of supreme authority. One step back: she has to be more sexy than authoritarian.
Both the 7 year-old in the room and the grown ups were disappointed. Glimmers of goodness that just don't glow.
3/5
