Johnny English Reborn: Movie review

Rowan Atkinson reprises his role as a spy (Johnny English) working for Her Majesty’s Secret Service in a spoof-spy-comedy ‘Johnny English Reborn’. His company’s motto reads: ‘Spying for you’.
Johnny English gets back to business after fading into anonymity for years owing to his disastrous performance in the past mission as a secret agent.
In his new mission, Johnny along with his junior, Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya) are expected to track down the culprits who’ve planned the assassination of the Chinese premier.The mission holds extreme importance for Johnny as his reputation as a secret agent is at stake and so is Britain’s relationship with China!
One expects loads of foolhardy and clumsy humour in a Rowan Atkinson film and that is precisely what you get. You may not roll on the floor laughing after watching Johnny indulge in one moronic stunt after the other but Atkinson ensures that you giggle throughout.
For instance the scene where Johnny is seated besides the British Prime Minister as he funnily adjusts the height of his chair is hilarious. The climax doesn’t even spare Her Majesty, The Queen from getting involved in the comedy of errors.
Though the film is clearly a spoof on James Bond, the laughter is evoked owing to its own standalone funny script. Also fortunately, Atkinson refrains from making his trademark funny faces often, thus allowing him to slip into his ‘spy’ character with no hangover of his iconic character Mr Bean which works. Don’t expect too much of originality though as most of Atkinson’s funny antics are run-of-the-mill. A lot will remind you of Steve Martin’s ‘Pink Panther’.
The film pretty much revolves around Rowan Atkinson, thus the rest have nothing much to do. However, Dominic West still stands out. Gillian Anderson is wasted.
The film not only impresses as a comedy but also keeps you hooked with the ‘thriller’ element in it in spite of it being slow paced.
‘Johnny English Reborn’ is a funny family film which won’t disappoint Mr Bean’s loyal target audience: the kids and the kid in ever adult.