Despite the halfhearted mystery propelling its plot, the primary question that floats above “Johnny English Strikes Again” is … “Why?”
It is true that its two predecessors — “Johnny English” and “Johnny English Reborn” — did remarkably well overseas. (Americans remained flatly immune.) So clearly, there are still loyal Rowan Atkinson fans out there. But if you’re determined to recycle one of his characters over and over, wouldn’t the beloved Mr. Bean or Blackadder make more sense than a James Bond parody made up for British credit card ads? At the very least, doesn’t he, and don’t his fans, deserve better material?
What’s particularly disappointing about this effort is the amount of talent wasted. In addition to the always-game Atkinson, we’ve got accomplished BBC comedy director David Kerr (“That Mitchell and Webb Look”) and screenwriter William Davies (“How to Train Your Dragon”). And also, rather curiously, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon.
It is true that its two predecessors — “Johnny English” and “Johnny English Reborn” — did remarkably well overseas. (Americans remained flatly immune.) So clearly, there are still loyal Rowan Atkinson fans out there. But if you’re determined to recycle one of his characters over and over, wouldn’t the beloved Mr. Bean or Blackadder make more sense than a James Bond parody made up for British credit card ads? At the very least, doesn’t he, and don’t his fans, deserve better material?
What’s particularly disappointing about this effort is the amount of talent wasted. In addition to the always-game Atkinson, we’ve got accomplished BBC comedy director David Kerr (“That Mitchell and Webb Look”) and screenwriter William Davies (“How to Train Your Dragon”). And also, rather curiously, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon.
- 10/25/2018
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
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