Johnny English Reborn 2011

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Atkinson revives the comic secret agent that he first introduced in a series of TV ads in the UK, but this thin script gives him nothing remotely like a rebirth. Read more

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: After a fast, funny start, the new sequel, "Johnny English Reborn,'' proves to be more of the same. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: While Atkinson, with his elastic eyebrows and not-quite-in-on-the-joke gaze, is always a pleasure, the movie feels unnecessary; a way to give some work to a handful of actors while waiting for a real movie to come along. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: The movie coasts on the charms of its rubber-faced star and its witty, easygoing set pieces. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: Atkinson gleans a few laughs from the contrast between his lascivious bedroom eyes and spastic physical comedy, but he can only do so much to elevate material this hopelessly mild. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: Johnny English isn't reborn so much as reheated, and his aim hasn't improved after all these years. Read more

Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly: Fans of sophisticated humor may feel empathy with, if not sympathy for, the lead character on those many occasions he is kicked in the nuts. Read more

Megan Lehmann, Hollywood Reporter: A redundant spy farce sequel that's less of a rebirth than a retread. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: All that matters with efforts like this is whether the cookie-cutter plotting serves up enough situations for Atkinson to contort himself into and out of jams. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Joke after joke falls painfully flat. Stay home and introduce your kids to Mr. Bean, instead. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: It would seem to appeal mostly to hard-core fans of the "Mr. Bean'' star and children who laugh at the sight of men being repeatedly kicked in the groin. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The movie feels about 10 minutes too long. Still the laughs, including the big laughs, keep coming right up to the closing seconds. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: At gunpoint I might confess to smiling when English pummeled the Queen of England with a tea tray, but the babysitters for the target audience will know that his best bits are burgled from Austin Powers. Read more

Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail: Johnny English Reborn is funny enough to make you laugh and plausible enough, in an exploding-umbrella type of way, to make you care. Read more

Trevor Johnston, Time Out: It's very undemanding, though the enthusiastic granny bashing does provide a quantum of solace. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: At least he's being honest: Johnny English Reborn makes no attempt to hide Atkinson's shameless thievery, his lack of invention or even his graying hair. Read more

Scott Bowles, USA Today: The humor isn't as dual-edged as, say, a Pixar comedy. But director Oliver Parker knows his genre well enough to lampoon the mainstays of the spy-flick genre, from impossibly high-tech weapons to foot chases worthy of Olympic medals. Read more

Russell Edwards, Variety: [An] enjoyable if somewhat wheezy reprise. Read more

Sean O'Connell, Washington Post: Atkinson has amassed a loyal following who will no doubt support "English" in theaters. But most will leave disappointed, thinking, "Bean there, done that." Read more