Mr Bean’s Holiday

Mr. Bean is an acquired taste to be sure.  You either love him or hate him.  In my house, we love him.   We used to watch him when the shows were aired on PBS and we also had a video tape of his “best bits” that my kids watched over and over.

We decided to go see the new Mr. Bean movie today largely because it was rated G and therefore suitable for the entire family.  I must say that this movie was really, really good.  I don’t know if it was worth the $41 we paid to get all six of us in but it was certainly entertaining. 

It’s important to note that Mr. Bean doesn’t really speak so it’s particularly amazing to watch an entire movie where the lead character says little more than three short phrases.  Rowan Atkinson is certainly a comic genius.  (I don’t use that term lightly either.)  His ability to hold the attention of the audience for the entire film with little more than grunts and expressions is truly a gift.  It reminded me of watching a great Charlie Chaplin film.  Again, truly amazing.

My kids enjoyed it and so did the other folks in the theater.  Unfortunately, there weren’t that many people in the theater and I fear that this film is going to be heading to DVD sooner than it should.

I don’t want to give anything away but the hitchhiking scene with the scooter had me and everyone else in the theater laughing out loud for an extended period of time.  It’s just a classic bit (like in early Woody Allen films) that I will remember for a long, long time.

The movie is certainly not The Simpsons.  Truthfully, it’s sort of the antithesis of the Simpsons.  It is, however, a fun ride…assuming you like Mr. Bean.