Johnny English Reborn

Review by Pete Roche

British funnyman Rowan Atkinson returns as the titular intelligence-challenged superspy in JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN, a follow-up to the 2003 Studio Canal/Working Title James Bond parody.  The royal crown’s answer to Inspector Jacques Clouseau of the French Surete (PINK PANTHER) or Frank Drebin of America’s Police Squad (THE NAKED GUN), English is a determined but catastrophically clumsy crime-fighter whose sleuthing successes are typically manifested by way of accident or third-party intervention.

The sequel is packed with more nods to iconic stunts and gizmo-gadgets from the celebrated Albert Broccoli 007 series:  English spars with a villain while dangling from a cable car tram, a la MOONRAKER.  He parachute jumps from a snowy promontory, paying homage to Roger Moore’s opening gambit from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.  And Johnny’s principal antagonist owns a well-guarded mountaintop fortress, a la ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE.  There’s also a boat pursuit, an unorthodox helicopter flight, a camera whose lens launches missiles, and a voice-activated Rolls Royce.