Had I never seen the various Blackadder shows as well as Mr. Bean, I probably would have enjoyed this film a little more. However, I know that Rowan Atkinson can be a tremendously funny man and he is quite the talent. Sadly, little of Atkinson's genius for comedy is evident here, as this spy film features exceptionally broad and dopey comedy--with none of the sophistication or finesse of his other work.

Now for people unfamiliar with Atkinson (especially the kids),this still might be a decent time-passer. After all, they won't have the same expectations and this is a family-friendly movie. But for folks like me that expect more, stay clear of this amazingly flat movie.

I will say that Johnny English is patchy, but it is enjoyable, and there are some very funny moments. To anyone who hasn't seen the movie, I will warn you, don't expect too much from the screenplay, it is very simplistic, and the plot is predictable. And the whole film is very, very daft, and I can't count the number of scenes that I deem as extremely silly. I do think the Coronation Scene is hilarious though. There are some nice locations, some good effects, and a number of funny scenes. The acting is not Oscar-worthy, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Natalie Imbruglia looks gorgeous, and does do well. Tim Piggott-Smith and Oliver Ford-Davies have little to do, but they do shine in the few scenes they are in. John Malkovich hams it up to a tee as the villain of the piece Pascal Sauvage, but holding the film together is Rowan Atkinson in a rather unsophisticated but fun role of Johnny English, and he breathes life into a film that could have been embarrassing and forgettable, but his sheer entertainment value makes it worth seeing. All in all, unassuming and definitely not Oscar worthy but not a bad film by all means. 6/10 Bethany Cox

JOHNNY ENGLISH is another disappointing big-screen adventure for Rowan Atkinson, following on from his lacklustre Mr. Bean escapades that never translated properly to the cinema. This one is essentially a Bond spoof with Atkinson playing an incompetent Bean-style super spy who has to save the Earth from a criminal mastermind with a ridiculous plot. Where to begin? There are a few good gags here amid a generally obvious storyline with lots of weak and groanworthy moments that should never have been included. Atkinson's okay, but Natalie Imbruglia is no actress and John Malkovich hams it up horribly as the villain of the hour. It's mindless stuff indeed, and that's not in a good way.