Hollywood Review: Johnny English Reborn (2011)

British secret agent Johnny English returns to the silver screen in ‘Johnny English Reborn’ after eight years. The MI7 spy first appeared in the movie ‘Johnny English’ in 2003.

British comedian Rowan Atkinson plays the lead role Johnny English, who is the super spy working for MI7. About eight years ago English saved the British monarchy from French invader (John Malkovich) and was knighted for his bravery.

However, a lot had happened to him after that. He was stripped of his knighthood because of a calamitous incident in Mozambique and was thrown into exile.

The opening stanza tells that English has been banished into the mountainous ranges of Tibet where he finds refuge in a monastery. The kung fu maestros teach him the art of patience and toughness.

Although prologue lacked the expected laughs but the crotch joke forced a smile on some faces. The guru being a modern tech-savvy Shifu was another act that brought some laughs.

Soon English is called to his former organization MI7 in London. The intelligence agency has discovered a plot on the assassination of Chinese Premier and the source would only speak to English. The agency is reluctant in English’s services owing to the Mozambique incident.

English was deployed the head of security to Mozambique President Chambal but his foolishness led to the president’s assassination.

However, MI7 chief, Pamela Thorton (Gillian Anderson) calls Johnny back and sends him to China right away to inquire from the source. English learns that there is a secret assassination organization called Vortex headed by three people.

English encounters an old Chinese lady assassin (Pik Sen Lim) in China, whose failed assassination attempts on English and his wasted efforts to capture her were a continuous fun stock for the viewers throughout the film.

The sequence of pursuit of an athletic Chinese killer and English’s patience in response was another comic scene but again not up to the expectations.

The scene in the plane on their way back to London, in which English’s side-kick, agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya) expresses his concerns on the male steward named Susan, raised some expectations that the movie will house more crackling jokes but that was not the case.

English soon discovers the second Vortex member, a former KGB agent, through hypnosis conducted by his behavioural psychologist (Rosamund Pike), who happens to be his unlikely lover. However, the probable source of information was killed by the old Chinese assassin.

English’s rescue on the helicopter was disastrous humour unexpected of in an Atkinson-movie.

The main twist comes when the KGB agent tells English that the third member of Vortex is within MI7. The attempt to unveil the face of the traitor, who later turns out to be his friend Ambrose (Dominic West), backfires at English and he is declared a double agent.

The story proceeds with bends and turns but the expected Mr. Bean comedy was very rare to be seen at best. However, the old lady assassin brought some fun to a very predictable plot. English’s protégé, Tucker could have been created a more fun character rather than a serious one. Moreover, the source’s assassination and wheelchair stunt were unsuccessful comedy to name some.

The secret drug was another opportunity squandered by director Oliver Parker and writers William Davies and Hamish McColl in creating a modern day comedy. Anybody who was expecting a better sequel to the 2003 flick might go home disappointed.

The end of the film turns out to be a Bollywood cliche that will leave moviegoers in awe.

Overall Johnny English Reborn turns out to be an unsuccessful attempt, which is Atkinson’s third major film in last eight years including the prequel and Mr. Bean’s Holiday.

Posted by Usman Khalid on Oct 18 2011. Filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry