JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN.
JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN
DIRECTOR: DAVID KERR CAST: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Olga Kurylenko, Jake Lacy, and Emma Thompson RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes CLASSIFICATION: 10–12PG DLV RATING: ★★★✩✩
ONE OF my earliest memories of Rowan Atkinson on screen was in the role of the ever so awkward Mr Bean. It was also my introduction to physical comedy, which is probably the only reason why I would willingly, sanely sit through an hour of what seemed in some places, a movie that’s done one too many sequences.
The saving grace was, of course, my attachment to Secret Agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) and the prim and proper, in an almost predictably British way, Bough (Ben Miller).
In this adventure, a series of cyber attacks on the UK wreaks havoc. After a particular attack reveals the identities of every active intelligence operative in the country, the job lands on English’s lap through some freak accident – he accidentally bombs all the other retired agents that were called up for this mission and he has to save the UK, and eventually, the world, from demise at the hands of a techno-terrorist.
One of the things I sincerely appreciated about the film is how tonally, it’s very much in sync with the lives and progress of civilisation. It’s a film that’s alive and well in 2018.
The storytelling, as directed by David Kerr, seems to understand that with spy films, we’re legit light years away now. Case in point: The Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
So it embraces its old-school status, with English portraying the role of an old agent who hasn’t quite caught on to technology.
But also the villain in the film is a suit and sneaker-wearing Silicon Valley narcissist, Jason (Jake Lacy).
The film also has a woman as prime minister (Emma Thompson) – we are after all living in the era of Theresa May – and it highlights how dependent on technology we have become.
The cyber strikes manage to cripple the transport system and send the London Eye whirling uncontrollably. All by the push of a button. From a remote location.
It’s even in how shocked Pegasus (Adam James) is when English forgoes the smartphone, the digital savvy gadgets and ditcheshybrid cars for what I think is a 1981 V8 Aston Martin Vantage.
Pegasus makes his displeasure known: “Oh don’t be ridiculous, English. This car’s a relic. It drinks petrol, leaks oil, has no passive let alone active safety features! “
To which Bough responds: “Do you know what else it doesn’t have, sir? Satellite navigation or a single computer chip.”
English says: “Making it completely invisible to a digital enemy!” I felt like screaming: “Right on, Johnny English!”
My favourite 10 minutes of the film came from the scene where Agent English tries out the virtual reality software. This scene combines English’s strong physical comedic scenes with some hi-tech spy fight scenes.
The film has all the good stuff: beautiful, smart, women, kick-ass locations and gorgeous spy fight scenes. English is also wonderfully accident prone. I also enjoyed seeing Bough’s life, through the reveal of his navy captain wife.
Must there be another Johnny English film? Nope. Is this worth the watch? Certainly, for old time’s sake.