Johnny English Reborn

Rowan Atkinson is a gifted slapstick comedian, as he’s demonstrated most memorably in his mostly mute Mr. Bean character from British television.

However, Mr. Bean was more of a chore at feature length when he was twice adapted for the big screen, and so was Johnny English, the 2003 spoof of James Bond and other secret-agent movies that provided another showcase for Atkinson.

Now there’s Johnny English Reborn, a half-hearted follow-up that features Atkinson again becoming mixed up in bumbling British spy shenanigans with hit-and-miss results.

This time, English is sought after by Her Majesty’s Secret Service to stop a global plot to assassinate the Chinese premier. His boss (Gillian Anderson) is hesitant based on his previous failures, but English sees the opportunity as a chance for redemption.

English is sent into the field with an array of high-tech gadgets and an ambitious young agent (Daniel Kaluuya) trying to learn the craft. But he soon realizes that the key to stopping the crime might lie within the agency itself.

Atkinson has some amusing moments (including one hilarious sight gag involving a conference-room chair), but most of the jokes feel predictable and stale by this time. One recurring gag involving a cleaning lady makes no sense at all.

Director Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband), working from a script by William Davies and Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean’s Holiday) keeps the pace lively but ultimately makes this more of a retread than a sequel to the original film.

The story settles into a predictable pattern of English setting himself up for failure because of something he’s overlooked or foolishly gotten himself into, then he’s rescued either by dumb luck or because of his rookie sidekick bailing him out. The supporting actors, including Kaluuya and Rosamund Pike as English’s main allies, at least seem to have fun with limited material.

It’s a concept aimed mostly at kids who probably aren’t old enough to appreciate a send-up of the Bond franchise, at least not in the United States. Adults will be more apt to see the film because of Atkinson, but it’s a mediocre outing for viewers of all ages.

Rated PG, 101 minutes.