Rowan Atkinson has two characters that he’s created that have gone down in pop culture legend. We’re still waiting for that second Mr. Bean movie—that’s one. The other now has three films under his belt and his latest, Johnny English Strikes Again is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats.
The farcical Johnny English movies have never tried to be anything more than what they are—spoofs of Britain’s most beloved spy series, James Bond. To appreciate these films, one must first and foremost be a fan of Atkinson’s brand of comedy. If that does not appeal to you, the humor and the fun of Johnny English will soar right over your head. Lucky for me, I truly appreciate all things Johnny English and therefore, found delight in the third installment in the series.
Not only is English the anti-James Bond, but what makes it so hilarious is that he thinks that he is as suave, successful and a save-the-day icon cut from the same cloth. Sure, they may shop at the same tailor, but that is about all they share!
This time out, we find English “teaching” at a private school for young children. When the identity of MI6’s finest is compromised by a hacker, the powers that be (led by Emma Thompson, back for another go as the leader who must find a way to keep her sanity while keeping up with her most, well… let’s just call him an agent. See, she has only one option to retaliate. You guessed it… paging English, paging Johnny English. That brings the “super” spy and his sidekick Bough back in action
Among many moments of hilarity, we treasure the scenes between Atkinson and a real Bond girl appearing in a fake Bond movie, Olga Kurylenko. How she keeps a straight face filming these scenes with Atkinson is beyond me.
The film’s premise is a solid one, what with English embodying all-things analog in a very digital world, right off the bat we are smiling at the prospect. Of course, Johnny English Strikes Again is not the highest of farces… but for appreciators of Atkinson, it’s a solid entry into the comic actor’s portfolio.
Check out our theatrical Johnny English Strikes Again review for more on the film itself.
There are over 30 minutes of bonus features whose highlight must be the locations that are breathtaking and honestly, right out of the Bond universe. Locations and Design explores these locales—both breathtakingly gorgeous and pedantic. From the South of France to the Prime Minister’s Offices, we get a front-row seat to how the locations fueled the film’s humor, plot and above all else—played an integral role in establishing that Bondian feel that is paramount to spoofing the superspy.
The entire series does not work without someone of Atkinson’s comedic talents and that titanic talent is showcased in The Comedy Genius Of Rowan Atkinson. It’s a fascinating look at how the master works his movie magic, especially his astute attention to detail that has been the hallmark of his work over the decades.
In The Johnny English Legacy, filmmakers share insight into how the character has evolved over the years, while staying true to his iconic ignorance!
One of the most hilarious set pieces of the film is when English dives into a virtual reality training facility—to utterly humorous results. Virtual Reality Johnny English Style tackles how the scene was laid out and comedy gold achieved. Even the featurette on that scene will leave you LOLing.
One cannot spoof Bond without having some stand-out spy gadgets. The Gadgets shows off those props, led by the man himself, Atkinson. The priceless insight into their creation and how they play a vital role in the plot and the humor is amazing. Like the gadgets, Bond and English are both known for their vehicles. The Cars finds Atkinson showing off his knowledge of all things automobile (he is for real an auto enthusiast) and his prowess in this field is stunning.
A Cast Of Characters does something that few home video releasees do (and they should), shines a spotlight on the supporting cast. It is a delightful addition and I wish more films took the time to embrace this bonus feature nice touch.
Film Grade:
B-
Bonus Features: B