Johnny English MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -1

Bean meets Bond in this 007 spoof. All but one of the agents of the British Secret Service have been eliminated, it seems, by one who desires to steal the Crown Jewels of England. Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson), Britains normally desk-bound agent in Her Majestys Secret Service, is called into action by default. Johnny English uses every high-tech, Bond-like device to attempt to outwit the criminals. Bough (Ben Miller) is the more capable straight man to Atkinsons clumsy character. Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich) is the villain. He has diabolical aspirations, not only for possessing the Crown Jewels, but also for the future of Britain itself. Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) is a secret agent for the French Secret Police and in Bond-like fashion becomes Johnnys love interest.

Johnny English, despite the high-tech gadgetry and specialized training, trips and foibles his way through every fast-paced action scene. Many times Johnny is oblivious to the funny things that happen to him and around him. The use of some crude language and nudity for comedic effect does not add to the movie and could easily have been omitted. A particularly inappropriate moment in the movie is the public display of the Arch Bishop of Canterburys buttocks with the statement Jesus is coming back. Look busy. tattooed on it. Make no mistake, the plot of Johnny English is simple and predictable, but overall it is enjoyable. The few negative elements earn the film a negative acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Brian Hughes
Distributor: Universal