The Rizz Review: Mr. Bean's Holiday
Posted by Randy Isbelle on 11.29.2007
One of the greatest comedic characters of all-time returns to the big screen
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
Rowan Atkinson – Mr. Bean
Steve Pemberton – Vicar
Emma de Caunes – Sabine
Max Bladry – Stepan
Willem Dafoe – Carson Clay
Theatrical Release – August 24, 2007
DVD Release – November 27, 2007
Runtime – 90 Min
Rating – Has been updated to G (Previously PG)
Director – Steve Bendelack
Mr. Bean’s Holiday takes a step back into time, but in a very good way. For those that remember his first movie release in the states, remember it being a bitter disappointment compared to the hilarious short clips and episodes years ago on public access. The problem with the original Bean movie was the fact that all they seemed to do was take every joke or skit that was shown on the television show and an Americanize them. The result bored old fans, because they had seen all of the skits before, and confused new fans, who just didn’t seem to understand it. The great thing about the old television show was the simplicity of it, the way Rowan Atkinson could not say a single word and make you laugh.
When I first heard that they were making another Bean movie, I was both excited and nervous, knowing how bad the first movie was, I was wondering what they were going to do this time around. The fact that the movie was created for a world wide release, and not just focused to bring the Bean character to America, was a great sign and in the end saved the movie. For those who have never seen Mr. Bean, do yourself a favor and go out and get this movie, and if you enjoy the aspect of the character, do yourself another favor and go and pick up the Best of Mr. Bean collection and see how it all started.
Rowan Atkinson returns as Mr. Bean, and seems to have never lost the character inside of him, as the first time you see the character on screen, you are taken back in your mind to the old television shows and the simplicity of it all. The story of the film starts with Mr. Bean winning a raffle drawing and receiving a trip to France as well as spending money and a new camcorder. It is shown early on that the trip will not go as planned, as Bean gets on the wrong taxi and is taken to the opposite side of town. Once he finally arrives at the train station, which will take him to his vacation location right on the beach, Mr. Bean finds himself in another situation, as he has accidentally caused a man to miss his train, and separates him from his son. Bean tries to consul the son, to no avail, and in the end misses the train at the next stop himself, leaving him only with the boy. The two make a strange bond, and for the duration of the film attempt to work together to reconnect him to his father.
Max Bladry, who plays the young boy, interacts with Atkinson wonderfully, and the bond between the two characters grows through out the film as the two find themselves in sticky situations at every turn. The best moment between the two comes in a small village market where the two desperately are trying to come up with some money, and decide to put on a show of sorts, and Mr. Bean dances to all different styles of music.
After getting separated from the boy, Mr. Bean finds himself having to hitchhike his way through France and in doing so he meets Sabine, a young actress who has just gotten her big break. Emma de Caunes, who plays Sabine, is probably the surprise of the film, as not only are you blown away by her girl next door-like looks, but she brings a sense of sweetness to the film that you do not expect.
The other main star in the film is Willem Dafoe, who most will remember from another great film, Boondock Saints. Dafoe plays an attention-starved director who is making a breakthrough movie, where not only does he direct, but he produces, writes and stars in as well. Dafoe is brilliant yet again, and at times almost steals a bit of the spotlight from Atkinson, only to see Atkinson mess something up and have all the attention go right back on his character, Mr. Bean.
The movie lacks a little bit in special features, not that they don’t cover the bases; deleted scenes, the making of, and people praising Rowan. However, they just don’t seem to have enough substance to them, and in the end can easily be missed.
The 411: Overall this is a great blast to the past, and is a surprise after the first Bean movie. If you are a fan of the film, do yourself a favor and check this out. If you have never seen anything from Bean, go out and find his Best Of DVD and check it out as well.
