It was a massive surprise to hear that Rowan Atkinson was taking a shot at another Johnny English film. The first was so savagely received by reviewers that it sadly saw the gifted comedian sink deep into depression. After seeing Johnny English Reborn you really get the feeling that Atkinson has nothing to worry about this time around. While the film isn’t exactly a-laugh-a-minute it certainly does enough to keep the whole family entertained and remind us all that Atkinson is still the gifted comedian that made Mr. Bean an all-time favourite.
In one way Johnny English Reborn blows a huge raspberry at the first film. It begins with Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson – Mr. Bean’s Holiday & TV’S Tak & The Power Of Juju) ‘hiding out’ in Tibet after a massive MI-7 ‘balls-up’ in Mozambique. However, after an informant, with information about an assassination plot on the Chinese Premier, demands to speak to English he is called back to work by Pegasus (Gillian Anderson – TV’S Moby Dick & The Crimson Petal & The White) and is teamed up with Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya – Random, TV’S Coming Up). Soon English discovers that the plot is being devised by an organization called Vortex and is made up of members from the CIA, the KGB and his beloved MI-7.
There is a lot of pressure placed on the shoulders of director, Oliver Parker (St. Trinians 2, Dorian Gray) with this film. He is called upon to include a number of genres in one film. He has to include action and some drama with the all important element… comedy. Luckily, he not only manages to do this but more importantly he makes you forget that you are actually watching a spoof movie. The screenwriters have provided him with a fairly decent story and Parker takes hold of it like a dog with a bone. There are genuine moments of suspense and strangely even though you never learn much about the characters you never feel that you are simply watching one-dimensional characters.
It is obvious that the cast of Johnny English Reborn simply didn’t just see the film as a ‘spoof’ film, they took their roles very seriously indeed. Gillian Anderson laps up limelight of being back on the big screen while Daniel Kaluuya, Rosamund Pike (Made In Dagenham, TV’S Women In Love) and Dominic West (The Awakening, TV’S The Hour) put in credible performances… in fact Kaluuya certainly shows that his an up-and-comer that has a big future ahead of him. But of course the big star here is Atkinson and he doesn’t fail to deliver. Whether he is using slap-stick, sight gags or funny dialogue he knows how to make an audience laugh, this film simply reminds you that he is a genuine comedy genius.
The one thing I have to give credit to the Johnny English Reborn production team for is the fact that they have made this a great family comedy (unless you have issues with your children seeing people handle guns). There is no crass humour and kids and adults with both find the film extremely funny. The first Johnny English may have failed but Johnny English Reborn is right on the ball.
Year: 2011
Director: Oliver Parker
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Dominic West, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Kaluuya
Classification: PG
Runtime: 101 mins
Rating: 
Available on DVD from 12th January, 2012