JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN (Rated PG)

The rubber-faced British comedian Rowan Atkinson is best known for his role as Mr. Bean, a bumbler who would never have been confused for a James Bond type.

Yet, here he is in the titular role of “Johnny English Reborn,” spoofing the spy genre as a disgraced former MI7 secret agent being rehabilitated back into the business.

With his odd quirks, Rowan Atkinson, though often funny in his slapstick silliness, is an acquired taste for many filmgoers; you either love him or maybe not.

He might be compared to Peter Sellers’ clueless Inspector Clouseau in the “Pink Panther” films or to Don Adams’ fumbling Maxwell Smart in the iconic TV series “Get Smart.”

As Johnny English, Atkinson only wants to put a smile on your face, and if you let yourself enjoy the moment, he’ll win you over.

The original “Johnny English,” released in 2003, is almost a forgotten relic, but it did seem funny at the time, considering the British comic works hard for laughs.

Eight years later, Johnny English has matured a bit, yet he remains steadfastly game for ridiculous pratfalls and errant behavior that mocks the civility of the cultured spy world.

One of the best things about “Johnny English Reborn,” which is borne out by its PG rating, is that it is so delightfully old-fashioned that the inevitable sexy glamour of this genre becomes family-friendly.

The story opens with English living in a Tibetan monastery, where he trains his mind and body with spiritual guidance, as well as plenty of kicks to the groin, from monks.

Having botched a mission in Mozambique, English has been out of circulation for years, but then the brass at MI7 come calling for his services.

The British spy business is now a corporate affair; the headquarters is named after Toshiba, with the slogan of “Spying for You.”

Crusty old men are no longer in charge. The head of MI7 is a working mother called Pegasus (Gillian Anderson), who is less than thrilled by the return of a dinosaur.

For reasons unexplained, a plot to murder the Chinese prime minister at a summit is afoot, and English is deemed to be the one to foil this nefarious scheme.

Even though he’s back on the job, English remains under the watchful eye of the agency’s shrink, the pretty Kate (Rosamund Pike). Not surprisingly, she’s the eventual love interest.

Meanwhile, English takes on a junior partner (Daniel Kaluuya), who is often about two steps ahead in figuring out what sinister perils lurk around the corner.

Of course, many of English’s former colleagues resent or mock his return. The suave yet smarmy Ambrose (Dominic West), who smugly thinks he’s the top agent, is downright contemptuous.

What keeps English confidently moving ahead is that, much like Inspector Clouseau, he remains blithely unaware of his shortcomings. This, of course, results in some nice humor.

To be sure, there’s plenty of slapstick goofiness. Atkinson only needs to arch his eyebrow to achieve great comic effect.

A scene at a conference table is greatly amusing because of a simple glitch in the self-adjusting chair in which English sits as he struggles to be attentive to a briefing.

Almost as funny is English’s maladroit unwillingness to accept that the youthful-looking person at the briefing is in fact the British prime minister.

The formula for English’s success as an agent is predictable. Averting one disaster after another, he stumbles into triumph.

Still, it’s plenty of fun that this genial comedy spoofs the sturdier aspects of the heroics found with a James Bond or Jason Bourne.

“Johnny English Reborn” may not be the cleverest spy spoof, but it is sufficiently ridiculous and has enough hilarity to be a fun family entertainment.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

While we are on the subject of bumbling comics, it’s fitting that “Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection” is being released on DVD.

The digitally remastered and restored 10-disc set, loaded also with over two hours of special features, includes 58 of the comic team’s talking shorts and feature films.

These Laurel and Hardy shorts and features were produced under legendary movie mogul Hal Roach from 1929 through 1940; this is the first time in the U.S. that they have been available all together in one collection.

The DVD set offers the finest quality available to date, including such favorites as “Another Fine Mess,” “Helpmates,” “Sons of the Desert” and “Way Out West.”

The “Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection” DVD set comes housed in collectible, book-style packaging with an extensive, detailed film guide.

Interviews with comedy legends Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway and more are part of the special features.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.