Johnny English is one step behind, again. When the first film Johnny English came out in 2003, it served as a family-friendly parody of James Bond films, but proved itself a spy-movie spoof of the template that Hollywood has repeatedly regurgitated since the 1960s.
Eight years later, in the year of movie sequels, Johnny English Reborn is a delayed attempt at bringing new credibility to its characters and storyline, but again fails to provide original and creative humor.
After being fired years ago from a disastrous operation in Mozambique, English (Rowan Atkinson) has been training in the monasteries of Tibet, learning lessons about wisdom and sharpening his focus through the guidance of his master.
When assigned by the head of MI7, Pamela (Gillian Anderson), to stop a group of international assassins from killing the Chinese premier, English comes across a thread of conspiracies that suggests there is a mole within his own organization.
Given Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya) as a sidekick, English tries to accomplish this mission flawlessly in order to redeem himself as an agent.
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Rowan Atkinson makes the best of his role as the bungling spy, providing an endless spectrum of his quirky facial expressions. The martial arts movements and fight choreography are impressive (with the help of stunt doubles).
Johnny English Reborn is definitely an improvement from the first film, containing increased action with a slight thriller feel. The jokes seem forced; they’re nothing new, but faintly more refined.
While the movie is filled with an excess amount of chase sequences, fight scenes, and predictable plots that may make you cringe, the filmmakers of this rebirth rely heavily on physical comedy that only preteens would find humorous.
[etRating value=“ 2”]
