Mr. Bean's Holiday

I find it amazing that ten years separate the two Mr. Bean movies. “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” is such a simple and pure stand-alone sequel. In the other film, Mr. Bean had to deal with America and a mistaken identity. This film has him in a country that doesn’t speak English. The comedy therefore is situational almost all throughout the film. This film as a result resembles the TV show more than the first movie did, despite the fact that the first film had the original creators much more involved. “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” has a fun narrative that doesn’t get going for a while. By the end though, you find that you enjoyed the show. I like the other movie a bit better but this film was a good follow up.

The title of this movie is a reference to the 1953 comedy: "Mr. Hulot's Holiday". That show was actually the inspriation for Rowan Atkinson when he was originally creating the Bean character for television. Unlike "Mr. Hulot's Holiday" that takes place mostly at the destination, "Mr. Bean's Holiday" takes place mostly on the journey. I like the cross-country journey that Mr. Bean must undertake through France. The opening of the film before the raffle contrasts the rest of the film. The plot of “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” seems to be almost like a bunch of Mr. Bean episodes put together until the boy, Stepan, is separated from his father. That is when a narrative actually begins. I like the responsibility that Mr. Bean must assume in taking care of Stephan in that he caused the separation. I also like how eventually the kid warms up to Mr. Bean. The language barrier again plays an important role. It is an even bigger barrier because the kid is Russian. The plot really gets going once Mr. Bean loses his money and belongings. Both of them are now in the same state and Mr. Bean has to use his ingenuity to get to Cannes. I like the gags when Mr. Bean and Stepan try dialing different phone numbers in order to contact the father. The best joke is the one where the guy jumps off the bridge. Another great moment is when Mr. Bean tries to beg in Russian. The photo of Mr. Bean that the police take off the train station security camera is so hilarious. Rowan Atkinson gets to show off his mime skills when he mimes to Puccini and other music. It is a good moment for the story because now Mr. Bean and the kid have money to buy food and get to Cannes. The use of “Celebration” is perfect for the scene. The separation between Mr. Bean and Stepan brings more comedy. Just like in the TV show where Mr. Bean’s car is destroyed by a tank, the same thing happens in “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” except with the stolen bike. I like how the kid gets a ride with the musicians and it creates a little celebratory moment when the two meet up again. I love how it is revealed to us that Mr. Bean has stumbled onto a TV commercial set. At first Mr. Bean awakes in the perfect French village only to have the Nazis show up. I also love the yogurt angle. Sometimes in the musical score of the movie, I can hear minuscule allusions to Mr. Bean’s theme song that opens his TV show. Just like in the first film, Mr. Bean fixes the problems of everyone. Stephan reunites with his family and thanks to Mr. Bean’s ingenuity, he puts Sabine back in the movie. Mr. Bean indirectly helps Carson Clay with his movie, which would have been a failure at the festival. Willem Dafoe is fun in the film as the vain and narcissistic filmmaking. All this makes Mr. Bean’s arrival at the beach much more triumphant. It is a fun ending with all our characters on the beach.

While the film is not quite as good as the first Mr. Bean movie, “Holiday” has Rowan Atkinson as his most famous creation and that is what counts. This appears to be the last Mr. Bean movie or TV special if you don't count the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics. It is a sad thought because as Atkinson ages, his character almost becomes a thing of the past. The situation comedy is great in this movie and the narrative is fine. We have a weird, silent person making their way across a country to humorous effect. The backdrop of France adds purity to the film that the first one did not have. If this is the curtain call for this beloved character, so be(an) it.

3.5 Stars