Movie Review by Vivienne Messenger
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Max Baldry, Emma De Caunes, Willem Dafoe
Director: Steve Bendelack
In this latest feature length instalment of Mr Bean’s exploits, the eccentric Mr Bean, as wonderfully and almost symbiotically characterised by the talented Rowan Atkinson, holds the winning ticket for the first prize at his local church raffle – a holiday to Cannes in the south of France plus a video camera thrown in.
Mr Bean’s hapless antics as always prove uproariously funny and there’s no let up to the bizarre situations that Mr Bean lands himself in and then has to extract himself from in the only peculiar and often disastrous ways Mr Bean knows how. He has this aptitude to almost panic and do the first thing that comes into his head.
Just as he did in JOHNNY ENGLISH, Rowan Atkinson is on top form and delivers an outstanding and unique performance. Even though it’s ten years after the first feature film, MR BEAN, Rowan Atkinson’s impact as this character has not dulled and you will find MR BEAN’S HOLIDAY is a genuinely hilarious family movie, which will appeal to all ages.
Skilfully directed by Steve Bendelack, who never lets the pace slacken, the movie is very tongue-in-cheek and takes off the film industry, in particular poking fun at the arthouse / indie director who is very self important, cantankerous and vain. Willem Dafoe marvellously brings this to life with his actor/director/producer character Carson Clay as does 11 year-old Max Baldry who plays Stepan, the son of another filmmaker (Karel Roden) who also deserves a mention.
MR BEAN’S HOLIDAY is one of those film’s where you just have to sit back and let yourself be entertained by the slapstick, comical antics of Mr Bean, in the way only he knows how. Also a word of warning – if you have never warmed like me to eating shellfish this movie will alienate you even further from ever attempting to!
