Johnny English Reborn: A Spy Comedy with a Twist
This is a spy comedy where Rowan Atkinson assaults old ladies, mocks the disabled, and hilariously butchers the Russian cinematic surname “Pudovkin.”
An unknown organization is plotting to assassinate a high-ranking Chinese official who has arrived in Europe for negotiations with the British Prime Minister. To save the day, the head of MI-7 (Gillian Anderson) brings back her once-top agent, Johnny English (Atkinson) – an unflappable man with the manners of an aristocrat and the intellect of an… well, you get the idea.
In the plot, English returns to service after a five-year absence, but in reality, he’s been away from us for a decade. During this time, things have changed both in MI-7 (the secret service is now run by women, machismo is a thing of the past, and agents are stuck writing reports instead of racing cool cars) and in cinema itself. The supermen of the 2000s have been replaced by scrawny nerds (“Kick-Ass” (2010), “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)), and Citizen Kane now wears flip-flops and stares at a monitor for hours (“The Social Network” (2010)). The phrase “incompetent spy” no longer seems like an oxymoron. Meanwhile, Bond, whom English is supposed to be parodying, now glares from the screen with the stern look of a real tough guy, and with all due respect to Daniel Craig’s talent, has completely lost the comedic touch that once defined him.
Atkinson’s Background and Humor
Fun fact: Atkinson went to school with Tony Blair.
Mocking Queen Elizabeth II has become a kind of tradition for Atkinson since his “Mr. Bean” days.
If the first film featured Mr. Bean as a spy, in this sequel, Atkinson, in a tuxedo and with distinguished graying temples, becomes more like Roger Moore. He’s incredibly funny (Moore, if you remember, was often hilarious too), but at the same time, genuinely cool at times. This effect is amplified by the director’s efforts. Oliver Parker, who has adapted Oscar Wilde’s works multiple times, maintains the famous British stoicism even in the most dynamic scenes, just like his protagonist. And when English calmly calls for an elevator instead of jumping off a roof, you realize that with protectors like these, Her Majesty’s subjects can sleep soundly.
Atkinson’s Real-Life Persona
Off-screen, Atkinson only confirms this stereotype. In the past year alone, he managed to appear as a guest of honor at Prince William’s wedding at Westminster Abbey and crash his McLaren F1 (the fastest production car from 1993-2005, mind you) into a tree. Characteristically, the accident seemed serious, but the actor escaped with a few bruises. So much for Mr. Bean.