--- title: "Johnny English Strikes Again: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/johnny-english-strikes-again/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/johnny-english-strikes-again" critics_score: 42 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Johnny English Strikes Again (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 42 from 16 reviews: 1 positive, 6 mixed, 9 negative. Most critics find Johnny English Strikes Again tired and short of laughs, though Rowan Atkinson’s physical comedy earns recurring praise. His timing and commitment give even some disappointed reviewers something to enjoy, with the virtual-reality training sequence repeatedly singled out as a comic highlight. The warmer reviews find enough humiliation and slapstick to make the predictable material entertaining, without claiming that the spy spoof has much freshness left. The divide is chiefly over how far Atkinson can compensate for the writing. Reservations cluster around a flimsy plot, stale spy jokes and an uncertain approach to technology and old-fashioned espionage. The spread runs from modest enjoyment to outright dismissal: HeyUGuys finds the film entertaining despite its underdeveloped ideas, while the Los Angeles Times finds its one-joke approach lifeless. Several mixed reviews occupy the ground between them, reporting real laughs but a dated, uneven film. ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint from the critic could be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/johnny-english-strikes-again-2018) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2018. The blocked page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no praise or complaint to summarize. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/movies/johnny-english-strikes-again-review.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 5 October 2018. O'Sullivan finds the film daft and predictable but says its comedy still prompts guffaws. She particularly praises Rowan Atkinson's committed physical performance and the carefully observed buffoonish character. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/johnny-english-strikes-again-review-daft-but-you-cant-stifle-your-guffaws-a3954151.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2018. Ebiri finds the film mildly entertaining, though not sharp or funny enough to fulfill its potential. He praises its steady stream of humiliation comedy and the heavy-handed symbolism of English battling high-tech villains in knight’s armor. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/movie-review-johnny-english-strikes-again.html) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C. 22 October 2018. The critic finds the film mildly watchable but largely unsuccessful, with its parody and technology jokes failing to catch fire. They single out the VR training sequence as a funny highlight that recalls Mr. Bean’s sly malice. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/johnny-english-strikes-again-continues-the-mild-adventu-1829897526) ## Little White Lies — Caitlin Quinlan Rating 2/2/1. 3 October 2018. Quinlan finds the sequel tediously unfunny and its central character stiflingly ignorant. She singles out the hackers’ traffic-light and airport pranks as among its few funny moments. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/johnny-english-strikes-again) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 2/5. The critic finds the film overly reliant on slapstick, with a flimsy plot linking predictable set pieces. Emma Thompson is singled out for bringing a touch of class. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-llqev5/johnny-english-strikes-again/) ## Screen Daily — Sarah Ward Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2018. The critic describes this third outing as a tired franchise entry. The page singles out Rowan Atkinson’s return as the hapless secret agent, without providing further review details. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/johnny-english-strikes-again-review/5132706.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2018. Bradshaw finds the comedy underpowered and the film only moderately entertaining. He praises Atkinson’s physical comedy, especially a gag involving a medieval suit of armour and helicopter blades. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/sep/30/johnny-english-strikes-again-review-underpowered-rowan-atkinson-spy-spoof) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 September 2018. Gleiberman finds the sequel mildly amusing but largely stale, with its comedy weakened by the need to function as a spy film. He praises the virtual-reality sequence in which Johnny, still wearing a headset, attacks imaginary villains around London. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/johnny-english-strikes-again-review-rowan-atkinson-1202952089/) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Rating 1/4. 18 October 2018. The critic finds the film lifeless, unimaginative, and reliant on stale spy-film jokes. They single out the virtual-reality sequence as a welcome burst of anarchic energy amid otherwise uninspired humor. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/johnny-english-strikes-again/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2018. Walsh finds the sequel limp, lifeless and not entertaining. She singles out its one-joke writing and muddled attitude toward Bond-era traditions and technology. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-johnny-english-strikes-again-review-20181025-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Dalton Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2018. Dalton finds the sequel flat, mirthless, and short on comic inspiration. He notes that the restaurant and virtual-reality slapstick sequences might amuse younger children, but says the rest is a waste of time. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/johnny-english-strikes-again-review-1148153/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film entertaining despite its tired premise and underdeveloped ideas. It particularly praises Rowan Atkinson’s comic timing and physical comedy. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/johnny-english-strike-again-review/) ## Den of Geek — Catherine Pearson Rating 3/5. 2 October 2018. Pearson finds the film funny but out of place and ultimately tired. She praises Atkinson’s physical comedy and the genuine laughs, while criticizing the scattered plot and dated feel. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/johnny-english-strikes-again-review-a-funny-but-out-of-place-physical-romp/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2018. The critic finds the sequel disappointingly stale and reliant on easy jokes. They single out Atkinson’s virtual-reality scene as the film’s best gag. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/johnny-english-strikes-again-film-review-rowan-atkinson/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/johnny-english-strikes-again.md