“Johnny English Strikes Again” is the third installment in the Johnny English comedy series, starring Rowan Atkinson as the bumbling yet somehow effective British secret agent, Johnny English. The film, directed by David Kerr, blends elements of spy thriller parodies with slapstick humor, and offers a comedic take on technology’s impact on modern life and espionage.

The film opens with Johnny English, who has retired from active service, working as a geography teacher at a small school in England. However, his current life is far from ordinary, as he uses his lessons to clandestinely train his young students in espionage techniques. The tranquility of his new life is interrupted when a cyber-attack reveals the identities of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving the country’s intelligence service, MI7, in disarray.

With their agents compromised, the Prime Minister, played by Emma Thompson, has little choice but to turn to retired agents to find and stop the mastermind hacker. English is called back into action and is thrilled to be serving his country once again. He is joined by his former sidekick, Bough, played by Ben Miller, who has been promoted in the ranks of MI7. The duo is as mismatched and clumsy as ever, with English’s outdated methods and disdain for modern technology bringing humor to their high-stakes missions.

The investigation leads them to the South of France where the trail begins. After a series of humorous mishaps and mistaken identities, they discover that the cyber attack originated from a yacht named the “Dot Calm.” However, their attempt to board the yacht disastrously fails, leading to further comedic situations including English accidentally setting a restaurant on fire.

Determined to uncover the mastermind behind the cyber-attacks, English and Bough return to Britain where their clues lead them to a tech billionaire named Jason Volta, played by Jake Lacy. Volta is the charismatic and innovative leader of a tech conglomerate and has recently unveiled a revolutionary software that promises to protect against cyber threats. Volta is also lobbying to have his software used to control all data traffic in the UK, effectively gaining control over the nation’s digital infrastructure.

As they delve deeper, English attends a meeting between Volta and the Prime Minister, posing as a waiter. In typical English fashion, his disguise leads to a series of blunders, yet he manages to overhear important details about Volta’s plans. Despite his gaffes, English becomes suspicious of Volta’s overly convenient solution to the crisis and his rapid rise to prominence.

The duo then heads to Scotland for a G12 meeting, where English mistakenly believes that the Russian president is the mastermind, leading to yet another comical misunderstanding involving a virtual reality headset. After several more antics, English realizes that Volta is indeed the villain he’s been looking for. Volta, having planned the initial cyber-attack, intends to use his new system’s launch at the G12 summit to gain control over all global data and manipulate world leaders.

The climax of the film unfolds at the summit. As Volta begins his presentation to the world leaders, English and Bough work together to thwart his plans. English, in a last act of bravery (and clumsiness), manages to disrupt Volta’s presentation and expose his nefarious intentions. After a chaotic sequence involving a suit of armor and a chase through the castle, Volta is defeated, and his plot is revealed to the global leaders.

In the end, English is celebrated as a hero, having saved the world from a potential disaster. Despite his unconventional methods and frequent mishaps, his loyalty and courage prove that there is still a place for old-school espionage in a digital world. The film concludes with English returning to his teaching job, where he continues to train his students in the art of espionage, hinting at the timeless nature of some traditional skills and the enduring need for heroes like Johnny English.

“Johnny English Strikes Again” is a lighthearted, feel-good movie that combines action and humor, celebrating the quirks and foibles of its unlikely hero while gently mocking the more serious spy genre. The film is filled with slapstick comedy, clever gags, and showcases Rowan Atkinson’s unique comedic talent, making it an enjoyable watch for fans of the series and newcomers alike.