Johnny English Reborn

Director: Oliver Parker
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Dominic West, Pik-sen Lim, Tim McInnerney and Gillian Anderson
DVD release: 12 January 2012
Rated: PG

While the Tibetan training camp sequence which opens Johnny English Reborn may be predictable, things soon improve as rubber-faced, googly-eyed comedian Rowan Atkinson shifts into manic top gear; resembling at times the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, and even a fleeting moment of John Cleese. In this crazy spoof on James Bond, nobody is spared - even the Queen, who's a favourite Atkinson target. It’s worth sitting out the end titles to see Atkinson do a marvellous bit of well-timed clowning in Master Chef tradition to Grieg's “Hall of the Mountain King”, with hardly any connection to the plot.

Johnny English (Atkinson), once a top spy for MI7, vanished from service a few years ago after an embarrassing failed mission. Hiding out and hardening himself with a rigorous and painful program in remote Tibet, the unpredictable English is called back to duty. Things have changed at Agency headquarters, now a sanitised politically-correct outfit run by the cool Pamela Thornton aka Pegasus (Gillian Anderson). She’s desperately seeking his assistance to thwart an attempt by international assassins on the life of the Chinese Premier at a heads of state conference. English is happily reunited with his old friend Agent Simon Ambrose, aka Agent One (Dominic West).

Accompanied by recently recruited Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya), English must head off to Hong Kong to locate ex-CIA agent Fisher (Richard Skiff) who has information on the assassination plot by a shady group called Vortex. There's a mysterious secret weapon with three keys involved. English needs to redeem himself over a past catastrophe in Mozambique, and unravel the evil conspiracy which may even incriminate a member of MI7.

Along the way, he has to battle a murderous old woman (Pik-sen Lim) with lethal vacuum cleaners, hypnotic drugs, megalomaniacs keen to take over the world, and the suspect traitor. Aided by an attractive behavioral psychologist Kate Summer (Rosamund Pike), faithful partner Tucker, and wheelchair-bound MI7 hi-tec weapons expert Quartermain (Tim McInnerney), English turns most situations into train wrecks, only to remarkably win the final round.

Running gags include a series of mistaken identity skits with the lethal cleaning lady, and any mention of the Mozambique stuff-up causes English's face to go into a spasm of ticks. A totally ridiculous high speed wheelchair chase - and much more - keep the fun flowing. Atkinson is, as always, the clever clown - you’ll recall him as the creator of Mr. Bean and Blackadder, whose co-stars Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson have gone on to more serious matters.

Directed by Oliver Parker (St. Trinian's), the script from Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean's Holiday) and William Davies (Johnny English) allows Atkinson full range for his physical comedy. The action is built around him, mercilessly spoofing the James Bond movies with scenes like the genuinely funny tour of Quartermain's hi-tech gadgets department.

The big budget enables a polished result. This is, I think, a more successful film than the first outing of Johnny English. The excellent support cast includes Gillian Anderson enjoying herself in comedy. She's totally confident as the head of MI7; and is skilled in such matters from the days with Mulder and The X Files. Anderson proved her dramatic worth in the BBC production of Bleak House as the doomed Lady Dedlock.

Rosamund Pike (Made in Dagenham) sparkles as Atkinson's true friend when others desert him - a light role for this fine actress. Dominic West, Tim McInnerney, Daniel Kaluuya, and Pik-sen Lim all provide good backup. Rowan Atkinson's humour isn't for everyone, but many will enjoy this latest James Bond-style adventure and his fans will surely approve.

John Bale