THINGS THIS MOVIE CONTAINED: Raw shellfish, lost belongings, Willem Dafoe (???), a tour of France.
THINGS THIS MOVIE DID NOT CONTAIN: Frankie Goes To Hollywood, an enema, a DVD of Kazaam.
The Review: After winning a trip to Cannes France in a raffle, Mr. Bean sets off
on vacation to the beach but gets heavily sidetracked along the way.
There is a troublesome language barrier between Bean and the people he
meets. Worst of all, he becomes accidentally responsible for the
separation of a young boy and his father- the father misses the train
and the boy is lost. Bean feels obligated to help the boy and his
father reunite, going to great lengths to do so.
This was a light, funny, and enjoyable film. A completely different atmosphere from the last Mr. Bean film, Mr. Bean’s Holiday takes you on an unconventional adventure with results that are both sweet and touching. A string of silly antics takes Mr. Bean from one problem to another in hilarious succession.
Rowan Atkinson makes a fast return to his iconic character with the same balance of slapstick physical comedy and awkward placement amongst society. It’s so familiar that it almost feels like watching a rerun. Bizarrely enough, Willem Dafoe has a bit part in this film as a self-obsessed director. It’s weird as hell to see him in Mr. Bean’s world, but he’s always a welcome presence on the big screen.
The best dynamic of the film comes with the quest of Mr. Bean and Stefan, the lost boy he feels responsible for. I found their unexpected friendship to be reminiscent of the Japanese film Kikujiro. Both films featured a young boy and an older man on a journey to find the boy’s parents, while running into schemes, setbacks, and comical issues. It’s a lighthearted plot line that works effectively as good family entertainment.
As endearing as Bean’s adventures are, this film just isn’t worth shelling out $10+ to see in theaters. Wait for the DVD. It’s pleasant to watch, but I assure that you can wait.
Complaints: If I had paid full theater price to see this, that’d be my only complaint. However, I am fairly hungry at the moment, with a craving for Lucky Charms cereal.
On a side note: Cannes just so happens to be one of the top places on my list to teleport to, when I soon master teleportation. There, and the set of The Office.
Ninjasaurus Rex:
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