Johnny English Reborn
2011 · Directed by Oliver Parker
Original language: English
- crime
- action
- comedy
The story
The most prominent heads of state in the world begin gathering for a conference that could have a major impact on global politics. When MI-7 receives word that the Chinese premier has become the target of some high-powered killers, it falls on Johnny English to save the day. Armed with the latest high-tech weaponry and gadgets that would make even James Bond jealous, the once-disgraced agent uncovers evidence of a massive conspiracy involving some of the world's most powerful organisations, and vows to redeem his tarnished reputation by stopping the killers before they can strike.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy digital photography with saturated primary colours: Hong Kong and Tibetan monastery sequences wash in hazy amber and jade, while London's government corridors sit under flat, clean fluorescent light. Camera work is brisk and studio-polished, with broad wide shots that let Rowan Atkinson's rubbery physical comedy play out in full, and frequent pratfalls staged for maximum readability. The score is bombastic spy-thriller pastiche, all orchestral stabs and ticking synth pulses that swell whenever a gadget appears. The vibe is light, silly and self-assured, the sort of easy-going nonsense that suits a lazy Saturday afternoon, a family film night, or a long-haul flight when you want to laugh without thinking. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with set-piece gags arriving every few minutes. The emotional register stays bouncy and affectionate, following a disgraced agent who keeps blundering toward redemption. Violence is cartoonish and bloodless, mostly slapstick and sudden explosions, with mild peril and no gore or sexual content. It suits viewers who want gentle, unpretentious comedy, Bond parody fans, and anyone who enjoys Atkinson's deadpan incompetence.
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