Johnny English

  • Review Date: January 11, 2004
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2003
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Fine (if pretty dumb) British slapstick for tweens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are a few strong words ("ass") and some bathroom jokes in this slapstick comedy. Some spy adventure peril including guns, but no blood or intense violence. Kids not familiar with the long-term French-English political and cultural clashes may be confused by the animosity between the French and English characters.

  • Intended to entertain, not educate.
  • Vague messages about good vs. evil, but all played for laughs. Some potty humor.
  • The main character is a bumbling fool whose intentions might be in the right place, but he's such a fool that he's certainly no role model.
  • Comic peril including shooting and fighting, no one hurt.

What's the story?

Rowan Atkinson plays JOHNNY ENGLISH, a low-level bureaucrat in England's spy service who dreams of being a field agent. When all of the agents are wiped out through his ineptitude, he gets his chance. England's crown jewels have been stolen by French zillionaire Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich), who plans to take over England and turn it into a prison facility. It's up to Johnny English, his sidekick Bough (pronounced "Boff") and woman of mystery (Natalie Imbruglia) to save the day.


Is it any good?

 

Johnny English as mild spy parody has nothing new, but Rowan Atkinson ("Mr. Bean") is a gifted comedian who manages to wring some new laughs with material that has already been fully explored in movies from Our Man Flint and Dean Martin's Matt Helm movies to Spy Hard, and Mike Meyers' Austin Powers series.

The spy parts aren't exciting enough and the funny parts aren't funny enough, but the overall effect is mildly amusing.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how comedy can diffuse violence. How owuld this movie's violence have affected you differently if it wasn't portrayed humorously?

  • What kind of character is Johnny English? Is he a hero?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Not as kid-friendly as you might think
As I looked for an end of summer movie to take my kids to, Johnny English was the only PG comedy I could find. My seven year old son was asking to leave before it was over. The newspaper reviews said 7-14 year olds would be giggling throughout, but most jokes are over the heads of 7 year olds. My son thought there was too much violence, although it was not real graphic. Older children may just think it is stupid.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Great Family Comedy
Rowen Atkinson is the classic Mr. Bean, so take Mr. Bean and put a little twist to it. Out comes Jonny English! It is the adventure spy story with some laugh out loud jokes. Its sure to put a smile in your face.

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 11, 13, and 18 year old
December 6, 2009
 
Not for kids of any ages.
This is NOT a movie for children. It should be rated at least PG-13, but I would not want my child watching it under 18. And even then, it is NOT a good movie - it is a dud.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Very Funny, Good Movie for the whole family

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Parent of 11 year old
October 4, 2009
 
GREAT MOVIE FOR ALL AGES :) parents i hope i'll be usefull in my post
WARNING SOME THINGS MAY SPOIL THE MOVIE Violence : violence is played for laughs though certain characters life are threatened but not in a dangerous way... Shooting fights.. no blood at all... Sexuality : girl says many times in a scene to English : i want to do things to you. Bare butt of a priest for about 10 second and a kind of a close-up but its not sexual ... played for laugh.. shots of characters in a toilet about 6 characters sitting close to each others each on a toilet.. nothing at all is visible. Language : one "My Ass" and one "F*** "character has "jesus christ is coming back" tattooed on his back Consumerism : Aston Martin Drinking : can't remember anything other then maybe characters have drinks in a buffet all ages about 30-60

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
weird,stupid butt funny

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Teen, 15 years old
April 10, 2011
 
Quite funny :D

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Kid, 12 years old
October 24, 2011
 
funny
It is very comedy Rowan Akinston AKA Mr Bean plays Johnny English and a very good actors, there are may sexual scenes. The movie is funny

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Nell Minow
Topics:adventures
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Peter Howitt
Cast:John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia, Rowan Atkinson
Genre:Comedy
Run time:88 minutes
Theatrical release date:July 18, 2003
DVD release date:January 13, 2004
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:comic nudity, some crude humor and language

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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