JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN (Oliver Parker). 101 minutes. Opens Friday (October 21). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NN
Rowan Atkinson returns to his inexplicably popular slapstick spy spoof, a genre that Mike Myers sucked dry a decade ago.
Following a failed mission, English heads to Tibet to seek the help of stereotypical Asians who train him to be a hero by dragging heavy objects with his junk. Soon he’s back in Britain and investigating an assassination plot along with a new recruit (Daniel Kaluuya) and his superior (Gillian Anderson).
The clichéd spy-movie shenanigans should theoretically tap Atkinson’s genius for verbal (Black Adder) and physical comedy (Mr. Bean) but never do. The comedian trots out stale one-liners and boring physical business like falling over an exercise ball, never eliciting more than a smile. At this point, Atkinson has the international success that allows him to make almost any project he wants, and without any creative resistance his career has devolved into late John Cleese levels of comedic laziness.
To make matters worse, the supporting cast all play straight men to Atkinson’s semi-amusing antics. Uncovering the identity of a mysterious evil agent is simple if you know the Hollywood whodunit convention that the villain is always the most recognizable actor with the least to do.
Perhaps this mindless family fluff isn’t worth getting bothered about, but a talent like Atkinson should be counted on for more than mediocre sequels.
