We first met Johnny English in the 2003 spoof of British secret agent flicks like the James Bond series. Rowan Atkinson reprises his role in this sequel (which is not a reboot as the title suggests). If you have seen the 2003 film, you will realise that Johnny English is nothing more than TV's "Mr Bean" in a bow-tie, playing an idiotic version of Bond, James Bond.
In "Reborn", it is no different. You get recycled Bean-type gags and you can see how the plot twists and turns a mile away.
Since his screw-up (or "Balls-Up" as the British tabloids said) in the first movie, MI-7 spy Johnny English (Atkinson) has been virtually in exile - in a Tibetan monastery where he is honing his martial arts skills not unlike Poh in Kungfu Panda. But not for long, though.
When MI-7 chief Pamela Thornton (Gillian Anderson) learns of an attempt against the Chinese premier's life, she somehow resorts to bringing English back into action. Now, English must employ the latest in the usual array of hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that permeates the KGB, CIA and even MI-7. He has a young sidekick in Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuva) and some technical help from behaviour expert Kate Summer (Rosamund Pike) but at the back of your mind, you know that no matter how he screws up, he's going to end up resolving the case. Unless, of course, you have just been introduced to spy spoofs.
To the newcomer, Atkinson's Mr Bean may be ludicrously hilarious. Children, especially, are attracted to his Bumbling Briton character. However, after a season or two of Mr Bean, most people will him overly slapstick and contemptuous. Worse, the gags get very predictable. And this is how it is with "Johnny English Reborn". All we see is Atkinson as Mr Bean playing a fumbling spy. Many of the opening gags are laughable, especially those dealing with his kungfu training. However, the laughs and the fun fade when we are faced with an inane assassination plot. If we compare this with Mike Myers' "Austin Powers" we would find this one a bit more childish.
Most of the good gags are already shown in the trailers and Atkinson's clownish agent does not endear himself to the audience. The others, however, fare better. Rosamund Pike and Gillian Anderson are a welcome sight, counter-playing Atkin's silliness, and it is nice to see Richard Schiff (of TV's "West Wing" fame) in a cameo. Another star to watch out for is Kaluuva who supports Atkinson solidly as as the bugged-eyed Agent Tucker. This sequel is for those who just can't get enough of "Mr Bean".
In "Reborn", it is no different. You get recycled Bean-type gags and you can see how the plot twists and turns a mile away.
Since his screw-up (or "Balls-Up" as the British tabloids said) in the first movie, MI-7 spy Johnny English (Atkinson) has been virtually in exile - in a Tibetan monastery where he is honing his martial arts skills not unlike Poh in Kungfu Panda. But not for long, though.
When MI-7 chief Pamela Thornton (Gillian Anderson) learns of an attempt against the Chinese premier's life, she somehow resorts to bringing English back into action. Now, English must employ the latest in the usual array of hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that permeates the KGB, CIA and even MI-7. He has a young sidekick in Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuva) and some technical help from behaviour expert Kate Summer (Rosamund Pike) but at the back of your mind, you know that no matter how he screws up, he's going to end up resolving the case. Unless, of course, you have just been introduced to spy spoofs.
To the newcomer, Atkinson's Mr Bean may be ludicrously hilarious. Children, especially, are attracted to his Bumbling Briton character. However, after a season or two of Mr Bean, most people will him overly slapstick and contemptuous. Worse, the gags get very predictable. And this is how it is with "Johnny English Reborn". All we see is Atkinson as Mr Bean playing a fumbling spy. Many of the opening gags are laughable, especially those dealing with his kungfu training. However, the laughs and the fun fade when we are faced with an inane assassination plot. If we compare this with Mike Myers' "Austin Powers" we would find this one a bit more childish.
Most of the good gags are already shown in the trailers and Atkinson's clownish agent does not endear himself to the audience. The others, however, fare better. Rosamund Pike and Gillian Anderson are a welcome sight, counter-playing Atkin's silliness, and it is nice to see Richard Schiff (of TV's "West Wing" fame) in a cameo. Another star to watch out for is Kaluuva who supports Atkinson solidly as as the bugged-eyed Agent Tucker. This sequel is for those who just can't get enough of "Mr Bean".