Johnny English (2003)

Johnny English (2003)

7/10

Starring

Rowan Atkinson

Natalie Imbruglia

Ben Miller

John Malkovich

 

 

Directed by Peter Howitt

The first Johnny English movie paved the way for its two sequels, delivering a hilarious spoof of James Bond that stands out as one of the best in the genre. The bumbling yet endearing character of Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is so socially awkward and oblivious that you can’t help but wonder how he and his team manage to succeed in their missions.

The movie also features Australian-British singer Natalie Imbruglia in the cast. It follows the typical spy spoof formula, pairing English with a far more competent partner, Angus (Ben Miller). Angus serves as the voice of reason and the anchor that keeps English from completely failing. His skills are the real reason their missions don’t go up in flames.

The comedy, both physical and situational, fits seamlessly into Rowan Atkinson’s signature style, reminiscent of his portrayal of characters like Mr. Bean. Interestingly, the character of Johnny English was inspired by a TV commercial persona, Richard Latham, also played by Atkinson—a similarly bumbling figure.

As a James Bond spoof, the movie stands out for its surprisingly strong plot. While most spoofs lean into eccentric villains and outlandish scenarios, this film balances its humor with a more grounded and calculated antagonist. The villain here is calm and collected, which contrasts brilliantly with English’s chaotic incompetence. Even the plot holes and serious elements are cleverly turned into comedic gags.

One of the film’s strengths is how it portrays English’s ineptitude without making him so awkward that he becomes irritating. Instead, he’s a character whose sheer luck and unexpected circumstances elevate him to the role of a secret agent, much to the chagrin of MI7.

Here’s how English ends up as MI7’s top agent on a mission far beyond his mental capabilities: A series of unfortunate events caused by English himself leads to the accidental deaths of nearly all of MI7’s top agents. As the only one left, English is assigned the critical mission of stopping the theft of the crown jewels at the Tower of London. It’s here that he crosses paths with Interpol agent Lorna (Natalie Imbruglia). Despite English’s presence, the jewels are stolen anyway.

With Angus’s help, English discovers how the thieves managed to steal the jewels, and their investigation leads them to Pascal Sauvage, the main villain. Joined by Lorna, the trio works to unravel Sauvage’s grand plan, which involves making himself the new King of England. As they dig deeper, they realize that Sauvage’s scheme threatens the entire country.

Stopping Sauvage proves challenging because he always seems to be one step ahead—primarily due to his intelligence and English’s silliness. The dynamic between the villain’s calculated moves and English’s clumsy antics keeps the plot entertaining while delivering plenty of laughs.

The movie was a box office success which led to the production of two sequels Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Johnny English Strikes Back (2018).