Adam Collins posted on October 21, 2011 00:00
When it comes to physical comedy, there is no one left in the game better than Rowan Atkinson. I was never a fan of his character Mr. Bean, but for some reason, his bumbling spy Johnny English tickles my funny bone. It all seems so juvenile, but I still laugh. Sad, I know.
The original Johnny English did not exactly set the U.S. box office ablaze with its $28 million take back in the summer of 2003. On the international front, however, it made an 
additional $132 million. On a $40 million budget, Universal had to be happy with that. What I do not understand is, after over eight years, why revive this character? Yet, on the international front, the sequel Johnny English Reborn has already made over $60 million. So, with a budget reported at only $27 million, the U.S. release is just pure profit for Universal.
Johnny English Reborn opens on the titular character donning a goatee and a ponytail, which is a very odd look for Atkinson and training with monks in a secluded part of the world. His training includes walking on hot coals and taking kicks to the groin. He has been removed from her Majesty’s Secret Service after a mishap he had on assignment.
English is summoned by his old agency, MI-7, for a mission that for which he was specifically requested. English meets with Pegasus (Gillian Anderson), the new head of MI-7, for a quick briefing. He is to meet with CIA Agent Fisher (Richard Schiff) to learn of a plot to kill the Chinese premier. Accompanied by his spy buddy Agent Ambrose (Dominic West), he heads to the armory where, in true James Bond fashion, English is equipped with various spy gadgets. Unlike his MI-6 counterpart, English is assigned a partner, Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya).
English and Tucker are off of to meet up with Fisher in China. Fisher alerts them to an organization of international assassins called Vortex. The three members have a special weapon that will aid in the assassination of the world leader. Each of the three members has part of a key that will unlock the case containing the weapon. Fisher admits to being one of the members of Vortex before he is assassinated by the Killer Cleaner. Through continuous mistakes, English and Tucker lose the part of the key recovered from Fisher’s body.
After being put into a hypnotic state by Dr. Kate (Rosamund Pike), English identifies the second person in Vortex as a KGB agent. Again, the Killer Cleaner, one of the funniest recurring jokes of the film, strikes. The KGB operative is killed, but not before telling the 
duo that Vortex was CIA, KGB, and MI-7. This leaves only one member of Vortex left, and this member is a mole inside their own agency. When the identity of this member is revealed, I could do nothing more than just groan
Despite all the obvious spy clichés, I enjoyed Johnny English Reborn way more than I should have. It is more entertaining and funnier than it has any right to be. The plot is thin and obvious. The acting is subpar at best. I do not understand why after being on The Wire for so long, Dominic West cannot get better movie roles. Punisher: War Zone anyone? Yet, I will give credit to composer Ilan Eskeri for a decent score that sounded like it belonged in Bond film. If you are not a fan of the original, or of Rowan Atkinson, I cannot see you enjoying this film. If you are a fan, however, you should at least be entertained. I would spend my money on this before I give it to Paranormal Activity 3.
RATING: 6/10
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