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Johnny English Strikes Again
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Olga Kurylenko
Director: David Kerr
Genre: Spy comedy
Rating: 15+
RUNTIME: 89 Mins
In the list of ‘unlikely sequels’, another Johnny English film must have been near the top. It’s been seven years since the last effort, and 15 years since the first film (crikey, where does the time go?).
However, I couldn’t have been happier to hear the news. James Bond spy spoofs are 10-a-penny, but none except Austin Powers quite tickle the funny bone like Johnny English.
Undoubtedly, that’s because of the talents of one Rowan Atkinson, a British national treasure. The 63-year-old with the world’s most malleable face returns as the hapless spy in another comedy caper as he tries to thwart an attack on Her Majesty’s nation. And he’s on fine form in this brilliant comedy.
Whatever you might think of Mr Bean, he’s loved by multiple generations with a passion once reserved for Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. It’s clear that Atkinson just loves playing the buffoon character, and he’s chosen to resurrect English for what one assumes is a final mission under surprisingly topical circumstances.
As befits his surname, Johnny English is a nod to today’s England, a country in thrall to technology – but Johnny himself is defiantly analogue, lacking even a phone as he battles an Elon Musk-like baddie who’s using the internet as a weapon of mass destruction.
He typifies old-school values – also including casual sexism and being useless with foreign languages – values which the PM herself (Emma Thompson playing an exasperated Theresa May caricature) finally extols as ‘fundamentally British qualities.’
You could call this a Brexit movie … and you’d have a good argument.
The premise is simple; the data centre of MI7 is hacked and all of its currently active members are revealed. Johnny English, being a former agent with his data protected, is called upon along with another group of octogenarians to save the nation.
Pretty soon, in side-splitting circumstances, he’s the only one left and he’s sent to infiltrate a yacht in the south of France, the source of cyber-attacks launched on Britain’s key infrastructures such as the railways and the traffic signals.
Luckily, he isn’t completely alone, and his sycophantic sidekick Bough (Ben Miller) comes along for the ride, much to English’s ambivalence.
You’ve got to hand it to Atkinson. He is a genius. Whether playing comedy or drama, he keeps everything contained. Even if the comedy is broad, Atkinson keeps his performance small, which of course exaggerates the lunacy of the situation at hand.
And of course, when a deadpan put-down doesn’t work, there’s always the rubber face to elicit a laugh.
This film is just a delight from start-to-finish, offering chuckles galore amid hilarious concepts, stunning locations, glorious motors and a beautiful woman.
William Davies’ script cleverly allows for each set-up to be carefully promoted before the delicious execution. Director David Kerr has a real feel for the tempo of the comedy and delivers it all with restraint and style.
Two scenes in particular are outstanding. One is during a scene in a nightclub, with English – pumped full of super-amphetamines – owning the dance floor with his wildly hyperactive Dad moves, and another as he terrorises London in a virtual reality sequence.
Even though you know what’s coming, you can’t help but burst out laughing. Johnny English is British through-and-through and it is the marvellous touches of authenticity and humour that make it zing.
Of course, if you just want to laugh at Atkinson’s trademark mannerisms, the bulging eyes, pursed lips and feline expressions of sly complacency, then there’s plenty of that too.
Yes, it may not be the most original film in the world and it won’t make your grey matter sizzle, but quite simply, who cares? I go to the cinema to have fun, and an absolute bucket load of fun is what I had. Please never retire, Rowan!
Now showing in: Cineco, Seef II, Saar, Wadi Al Sail, Juffair Mall, Avenues
Kristian’s verdict: 5/5
