Johnny reborn or rehashed?xxx

It’s been eight years since the first crack at the spy spoof whip and it’s far too easy to imagine this was filmed in lazy fashion around 2004 and left to gather dust until Atkinson decided he wanted to top up his bank balance.

The fact it made it onto a large projector is mildly shocking given that it’s straight-to-DVD fodder of the first degree.

But much like its prequel, it’s one for the kids.

In the years since MI7’s top spy vanished off the grid, Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia.

But when his agency superiors learn of an attempt against the Chinese premier’s life, the bumbling British secret agent is re-hired and springs back in action.

With one shot at redemption, English must employ the latest in hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI7.

Don’t get too excited though, it sounds better in print – not that you can expect a great deal from a concept designed to sell credit cards.

On the bright side, even though getting on a bit now, Atkinson rattles through his repertoire of whoopsy-daisy doltishness and facial gymnastics, and for many, it’s a gentle relief to enjoy half-baked silliness over the profanity-dependent comedy so commonly churned out these days.

The gags are a bit flat and tired, but that’s not Atkinson’s fault, and given that the original raked in millions the world over, there’s no reason to suspect Reborn won’t tick the same dollar-fetching boxes for a second run.