Does the world need another Johnny English film? Put simply, no! The story is basically irrelevant; it’s just a vehicle for Rowan Atkinson making a fool out of himself. Similar films in the same ilk are Pink Panther and Get Smart, where you get a detective/special agent who clumsily go about their business creating humorous moments for the audience but still manage to get the job done. Does anyone actually like these films? I would say it is a tired overused genre already.
It’s obvious that the film is targeted at families with young children. The children will no doubt be kept amused by Johnny English’s silliness, but I feel sorry for the parents who have to sit through this. So reader, if you are a parent (which I doubt you are), don’t pay the money for this unless you are really big fan of Mr. Bean. Because let’s face it, Johnny English is just Mr. Bean with a nice suit.
It started off reasonably well, with the odd snigger and smirk, but as time elapsed I became more and more frustrated with Johnny’s idiocy. He’s a terrible spy, lewd and a little bit racist, but MI7’s decision to re-hire Johnny English was unforgivable in my eyes because of one key thing: it created an awful unwanted sequel. Honestly, Johnny, I’ve had enough of you. I know you eventually saved the day and all, but it was an accident. A fluke! I certainly wouldn’t hire you myself. So I’m advocating early retirement for Agent English, and we can all just forget this mess ever happened. But then again, Rosamund Pike is in this film and she’s ridiculously hot. So not all bad!
Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West
“If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air / Quaint little villages here and there […] If you like the taste of a lobster stew / Served by a window with an ocean view / You’re sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod” – Patti Page, ‘Old Cape Cod’
