Unit 2.6 - Single Sequence Analysis

Comedy - Johnny English

For this task, I have decided to look at the genre 'comedy'. Within this, I have chosen to analyse the film 'Johnny English' as it is a simple British comedy. Firstly, 'Johnny English' tries to copy a more serious film/genre and adds a comedy sense to it, similar to what 'Austin Powers' did with 'James Bond', but in this case 'Johnny English' imitates James Bond. This is a typical generic convention of comedy in that the main character tries to be serious or tries to achieve some sort of goal. In 'Johnny English', English tries to achieve typical Agent characteristics and to rescue the 'crown jewels' from an antagonist.
This is easily distinguish in the opening sequence as English breaks into a mansion but using comical techniques such as getting past the guard dogs by throwing toys for them to chase, which is typical because of the mise-en-scene of the genre. This appeals to all kind of audiences as it is typically funny and easy to relate to, but everyone realises that this technique would not work in a real life situation.

Next, the comical aspect of the main character, who throughout the film is the protagonist. He goes from being portrayed as a James Bond type of character to just working in an office as he was merely dreaming of the moment that was the opening scene. He is then embarrassed deliberately as he continued to dream but the audience could see his actions outside of his dream. In many comedies, the portrayal of the main protagonist is often that he looks pathetic and clumsy at the start but by the end of the film achieves his goal that developed within the problematic.

Also in comedy, the main protagonist goes through stages of problems or events that lead him to set out on his journey. The film follows the protagonists plot throughout the film whilst indulging into the exploits of the antagonist. This is similar to an action/adventure but obviously in comedy, it adds comical dialogue and actions to the narrative. In Johnny English, to back up that he is clumsy and pathetic at the start of the film and to introduce a problem, all the current agents are blown up at a funeral, despite English saying that the area was 'the most secure place in England'. With all the agents being blown up, English is given the task to resolve the plot.

I believe that these conventions have been approached well in the production of 'Johnny English'. They have taken a serious situation but added a comical side to the plot but with an altogether happy ending.
The film meets the typical generic conventions of comedy with the main protagonist being pathetic and inadequate to the task at hand but in the end, becomes a hero of some sort. Also, this film follows the main character, who is a protagonist, through which he experiences many problems, including one that the audience must feel sorry for the character.