The reviews lean towards mixed, with Rowan Atkinson’s comic skills drawing more consistent praise than the material he is given. Critics find intermittent laughs in his physical comedy and familiar bumbling, though enthusiasm for the spy spoof as a whole is limited. Empire offers the warmest response, praising the crowd-pleasing set-pieces and an impressive car chase. Variety also finds an effective family romp, crediting Atkinson’s character-based comedy while acknowledging the script’s lack of polish.
Reservations cluster around predictability, repetition and a premise that promises more than it delivers. The spread runs from cheerful acceptance of familiar silliness to frustration at how little the script supplies beyond slapstick. John Malkovich’s villain earns praise for comic timing and camp amusement in some reviews, but is judged underused elsewhere. Eye for Film takes the strongest negative position, finding the film mostly unfunny and its central character unsympathetic, while still appreciating Natalie Imbruglia and Malkovich.