Tuesday Night is Film Night is here yet again! And as the summer evening sun warms us, we draw the curtains on that and settle down to witness;
Johnny English Reborn
Yes indeed, the hapless and gormless MI7 agent is back. Johnny English is here to save the day, but first he has to ruin it for everyone.
Made in 2011, Johnny English Reborn sees Rowan Atkinson delightfully recreate his spectacularly English; Johnny English, after his first outing in the eponymous film from 2003.
After a disaster in Mozambique (cue facial tick and twitchy eye), English was stripped of his knighthood, removed from the Secret Service and exiled to Tibet, where he studied at the (kicking) feet of Tibetan monk's. (It will all become clear if you watch the film).
Anyway, the upshot is, after several years in the wilderness, he is summoned back to London to head up a new operation to uncover a plot to assassinate the Chinese premier. In London he meets up with the new MI7 chief Pegasus, AKA Pamela, played the very lovely Gillian Anderson. He also catches up with the gadget man for MI7; Patch Quartermain played by Tim McInnerny. And finally, he gets reacquainted with the top agent; Simon Ambrose played by Dominic West.
Unfortunately, there is no return appearance for Ben Miller as Bough in this second outing for Johnny English, although he is credited in the movie, so one can only assume his appearance hit the cutting room floor in the final edit. Instead the role of assistant to Mr English falls to young Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya).
As for the actual plotline, it is the usual fare; techie gadgets for your agent on the street, mishandled by the occasionally pompous English. Various double agents, working for various different agencies and a mad Chinese woman running round with a hoover, trying to kill everybody! (Again, you need to see it).
There's no real need to articulate within this internet based vehicle for movie facts, the full letter of the story, to be honest in the grandest scheme of things, it is not that important. What is important is the acting, the dialogue and the situations, it is a fun filled film. To all intents and purposes it could be a Bond movie, if it were not for the farcical notions and the hapless meanderings of the main character. As the movie taglines state; "A little intelligence goes a long way"! And; "One man. One mission. No chance".
In summation Johnny English Reborn delivers the goods, Atkinson is as always, superb. Daniel Kaluuya as Agent Tucker makes a decent sidekick, (but he's no Bough). And the other leading characters all fill in the gaps quite nicely.
A thoroughly enjoyable movie, which on the TNiFN clap-o-meter, pushed the needle round to a healthy and hearty 8.7 out of 10. (Who introduced fractions of a vote?!)
Not a great review, but a great movie. See you next week.
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