Giles Keyte/Focus

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. The invaluable Thompson is, it must be said, an absolute delight as the frazzled British prime minister. New to the job, she’s just learned that a hacker plans to bring London to a standstill during an upcoming international summit.

Watch Video: Rowan Atkinson Struggles With VR Headset in New 'Johnny English Strikes Again' Trailer

Moreover, he’s exposed all of her secret agents before they can track him down. What to do? First, bring the best out of retirement. And when that plan fails (Gambon, we hardly knew you), there’s always Johnny English (Atkinson). The former M17 spy is as inept as ever, but at least he’s got a loyal aide in Bough (Ben Miller, “Paddington 2”). While the minister enlists the help of a Silicon Valley billionaire (Jake Lacy), English and Bough trace the hack to the South of France, where a dangerous double agent (Olga Kurylenko, “Quantum of Solace”) is lying in wait.

And what’s waiting for us? Linguistic mix-ups, exploding pens, pratfalls involving a suit of armor, and Black Eyed Peas punchlines. When Johnny proclaims, “We’re doing this mission old-school,” he means it.

Also Read: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding to Star in Paul Feig's 'Last Christmas'

There is humor to be mined from Atkinson’s fish-out-of-water persona, particularly since the traditional Bond formula feels so dated itself now. The 80s soundtrack (Wham!, Bananarama, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) plays up this approach, as do jokes about floppy disks and the ecological impracticality of an Aston Martin. The best gag is an extended scene in which an astounded English experiences virtual reality for the first time, allowing Atkinson to exploit his rubber-limbed lunacy.

Mostly, though, it’s the movie itself that feels dusty. Davies and Kerr settle, more often than not, for the easy joke rather than the smart one. When Johnny stubbornly refuses to fill the Aston Martin’s gas tank before a chase, can you guess what will happen next? When he’s given sleeping pills and adrenaline pills, which will he take at just the wrong time? And when all else fails, will you be remotely surprised by the appearance of his bare bum?

Also Read: Saban Films Acquires US Rights to Michael Caine's 'King of Thieves'

In fairness, more than a few kids giggled at that part during a recent screening. And adults may appreciate Atkinson’s earnest commitment, particularly considering how much Daniel Craig appears to dread each subsequent Bond installment. But as Craig knows, there comes a time when every man has to hang up his tux. When the suspenders snap, that time has arrived.

18 British Sitcoms You Can Stream Right Now (Photos)

The Brits are known for their often naughty sense of humor just as much as their love of tea. Check out TheWrap's recommendations for British comedy imports available to stream on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.
"Crashing" (Netflix)
Created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, "Crashing" follows seven people who live together as the "property guardians" of an abandoned hospital. "Being Human's" Damien Molony, "Broadchurch's" Jonathan Bailey and Louise Ford also star.
Channel 4
"Fresh Meat" (Hulu)
"Peep Show" creators Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain launched their follow-up series "Fresh Meat" in 2011. The hangout comedy, which ran for four seasons on Channel 4, follows six first-years at a fictional university who all live together in off-campus housing.
Channel 4
"Chewing Gum" (Netflix)
Based on her play "Chewing Gum Dreams," E4's comedy stars Michaela Coel as 24-year-old virgin Tracey Gordon, who wants to have sex and learn about the world to avoid becoming like her uptight older sister.
Netflix
"Absolutely Fabulous" (Netflix, Hulu)
Based on a sketch written by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, "Absolutely Fabulous" stars Saunders and Joanna Lumley as a pair of self-destructive trend-chasers desperate to stay young. The classic '90s comedy has been revived for a series of specials that aired in 2004, 2011 and 2012, as well as a movie in 2016.
BBC
"Crazyhead" (Netflix)
A horror-comedy series from "Misfits" creator Howard Overman, E4's "Crazyhead" stars Cara Theobold and Susan Wokoma as a pair of 20-something seers who fight demons only they can see. The series was picked up for international distribution by Netflix in 2016.
Netflix
"W1A" (Netflix)
A follow-up to the series "Twenty Twelve," a comedy about the production of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, "W1A" saw Hugh Bonneville's Ian Fletcher taking on a new role at the BBC. "Spaced" star Jessica Hynes also reprised her role from the original on the new series (named after the BBC's post code), as did narrator David Tennant.
BBC
"Gavin & Stacey" (Hulu)
Matthew Horne and Joanna Page star in the romantic comedy series "Gavin & Stacey" as a couple struggling to maintain their long-distance relationship. The show's writing duo James Corden and Ruth Jones also star as the pair's best friends. In 2013, Fox attempted a U.S. adaptation of the series titled "Us & Them," which never aired.
BBC
"The IT Crowd" (Netflix, Hulu)
Graham Linehan's cult favorite "The IT Crowd" follows three employees of a fictional corporation's IT department. Chris O'Dowd and Richard Ayoade star as a pair of tech experts overseen by a manager played by Katherine Parkinson. A U.S. adaptation, led by Ayoade reprising his role, failed to make it to air on NBC.
Channel 4
"Fleabag" (Amazon)
In her follow-up to "Crashing," Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars as an aimless young woman, identified only as "Fleabag," who is mourning her best friend. The series, which aired on BBC Three and Amazon, was adapted from Waller-Bridge's award-winning 2013 play of the same name.
Amazon
"Peep Show" (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon)
Comedy duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb star as a mismatched pair of roommates -- a neurotic loan manager and a slacker musician -- in Channel 4's long-running hit comedy. The beloved series aired for an unprecedented nine seasons before finally concluding in December 2015.
Channel 4
"Spaced" (Hulu)
Simon Pegg and director Edgar Wright, who would later go on to collaborate on "Shaun of the Dead," first teamed on the Channel 4 series "Spaced" in 1999. The slacker comedy starred Pegg and co-creator Jessica Stevenson as two strangers who pretend to be a couple in order to meet the requirements to rent a cheap apartment.
Channel 4
"Catastrophe" (Amazon)
Created by and starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, "Catastrophe" follows a couple as their one-night stand blossoms into a real relationship due to an unexpected pregnancy. The acclaimed series has been nominated for multiple awards including a Primetime Emmy for writing.
Amazon
"The Thick of It" (Hulu)
Before creating HBO's Emmy-winning "Veep" in the U.S., Armando Iannucci satirized the inner-workings of the British government on the BBC's "The Thick of It," which ran for four seasons between 2005 and 2012. "Doctor Who's" Peter Capaldi stars as the government's no-nonsense director of communications.
BBC
"Lovesick" (Netflix)
Formerly known as "Scrotal Recall," Tom Edge's "Lovesick" follows a single young man (Johnny Flynn) who must contact all of his past sexual partners when he's diagnosed with an STD. Daniel Ings and "Misfits" alum Antonia Thomas also star as Dylan's two best friends.
Netflix
"Doll & Em" (HBO)
Created by and starring Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells, "Doll & Em" revolves around a successful actress (Mortimer) who hires her down-on-her-luck best friend (Wells) as her assistant. The show premiered in 2013 on Sky Living in the U.K., and was later acquired by HBO, which aired the show in the U.S.
HBO
"The Office" (Netflix, Hulu)
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's original version of the mockumentary series "The Office" ran for just two seasons, but the show has since been adapted in a number of other countries, including a long-running and hugely successful NBC adaptation starring Steve Carell.
BBC
"Black Books" (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon)
Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan's "Black Books" stars Moran as the misanthropic bookstore owner Bernard Black, whose only friends are neighboring shop owner Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig) and his accountant Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey). The BAFTA-winning comedy ran for three seasons on Channel 4.
Channel 4
"Coupling" (Hulu)
Steven Moffat's "Coupling," an attempt to replicate the success of NBC's "Friends" overseas, centered on a group of six friends, three men and three women, and their sexual misadventures. The show was received well enough in the U.K. that NBC attempted its own short-lived adaptation in 2003.
BBC

1 of 19

From “Absolutely Fabulous” to “Fresh Meat,” the best UK comedies are more refreshing than a cup of tea

The Brits are known for their often naughty sense of humor just as much as their love of tea. Check out TheWrap's recommendations for British comedy imports available to stream on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.

View In Gallery