Johnny English: English humor fit for family

Johnny English may seem like the typical spy movie parody. It features a scaled-down version of the explosions and car chases of an action movie intermingled with comedic scenes funny enough to make you bend over with hysterics. However, unlike its predecessors' predilections for vulgar jokes, Johnny English premiers genuine, innocent humor that is rarely seen in theaters.

Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) vividly dreams about driving fast cars and kissing beautiful women whenever he falls asleep at his quiet desk job. Unexpectedly, all of England's special agents simultaneously die during an explosion at a funeral reception, leaving English as the only eligible man left for the British Secret Service. His first mission is to protect the Queen's jewels from a possible burglary – if only he could navigate out of his office building. English displays his unfamiliarity with the spy business through numerous scenes packed with his mistakes and blunders. He foolishly either allows criminals to escape from right under his nose (literally), or jumps the wrong person when on attack.

Still, English is not the type of person who readily surrenders. After acting like a crazy man at a private funeral, getting sloshed in human waste, sticking himself with a blow of muscle-relaxer (this list could go on forever), English uncovers the evil plan of a prominent French businessman, Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich). Sauvage plans to crown himself king of England and then turn the country into an international prison (darn those French!). Unfortunately, England's only spy soon finds himself shackled in the dungeons of the aforementioned villain alongside a classic Bond-girl Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) and sensible sidekick Bough (Ben Miller). Nonetheless, the shaky trio escapes with a bit of coincidental luck and laudable endurance.

By the end of the film, the once fatuous English has transformed into an unlikely hero. In numerous occasions he attempts to protect his fellow law-abiders and even offers his life to his beloved country. In the final showdown between good and evil, he bravely combats Sauvage "for Queen and country" (though he jeopardizes the lives of some principal government officials in the process).

After the release of one spy parody after another, such as Agent Cody Banks and the more adult-targeted Austin Powers, some may consider Johnny English cliché. However, this parody is a rare cookie. Atkinson, well known as the star of the British series Mr. Bean, brings ingenuous, yet authentic comedy to this PG-rated film. Sure, there is a naked bottom tattooed, "Jesus is coming – look busy," but, surprisingly, there are funnier scenes that can induce laughter in a five-year-old child as well as a thirty-year-old man. Atkinson's facial expressions during awkward moments and unsuccessful attempts at performing unparalleled stunts are enough to break a rib. For instance, not a single viewer can stifle a giggle when this supposedly brawny spy dances and sings along with lyrics that consist of the words "hot" and "oh yeah."

Balancing the untainted humor, Johnny English features only half of the explosions and heart-stopping physical struggles normally in brutal action films. In fact, the visual effects are so outdated that it could have been produced in the 1990's with no noticeable difference. Namely, the action is distant from the camera, reducing the volume as well as the vividness of many scenes. Furthermore, English's most futuristic spy gismo is a precision watch that targets obscure locations, and compared to the luscious Jaguar XKR convertible featured in Die Another Day, English's ride lacks not only the driver's intuition, but also the speed.

Because of the simplistic technology and chaste humor, Johnny English's target audience is most likely non-American. As a result, it will not garner the praise it deserves in the States. Although many of the jokes are European-centered and involve the British National Guards, there is something silly for people of all ages and cultures. Situated perfectly halfway between the antiquated comedy of Mr. Bean and the hardcore action of James Bond, Johnny English offers sidesplitting laughs for the whole family.