Mr. Bean's Holiday

[puckrobin]

Last night I saw Mr. Bean's Holiday with rusty_armour. I went in thinking that it would somewhat funny but didn't expect too much, but found it was absolutely marvelous.

Of course, I mentioned it to another friend who immediately said that from my description it sounded a lot like Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday. Every film critic seems to agree and that means I've another film to watch before I die.

Bean 2 was delightful, funny, and far less American than the first film. There was more sentimentality than the wonderful evil 12-year old Bean of the original short films, but at least this movie Bean didn't talk much and supporting characters didn't have long scenes talking about him - unlike the misguided first movie. In fact, as most characters he interacts with don't speak English, it really does rely on the physical comedy and face-pulling that's classic Bean.

I was surprised by how many viewers didn't like it, because I thought it was so much better that the tripe they hold up as fine modern comedies. And I'm sorry but despite what the Guardian says, there's definitely a place in this "post-Borat world" for Mr. Bean.

Allen

P.S.: Our persistence in staying to the end of the credits was somewhat rewarded.

Comments

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Interesting.

I didn't go to see it as the film reviewer I most respect, Mark Kermode, hated it and said that Bean actually did something morally wrong which made him uncomfortable, a mix-up with a child who people think is abducted?

I saw Monsieur Hulot's Holiday when I was a student. I was impressed but didn't particularly enjoy it. Not really my style!

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

Morally wrong? Maybe the reason why I'm blanking on the specific incident is that I always picture Bean as being somewhat amoral (as opposed to moral or immoral). He's got a sweetness at times, but I think he's more a force of nature. If anything, I think Bean might be a little more helpful than in the original TV episodes.

But I've been checking out all the positive reviews for the Simpsons Movie (which I found to be worse than a substandard episode) and all the negative reviews for Mr. Bean's Holiday, and I wonder if I've gone insane.

Not for the first time, I'm out of step with the world. (Forrest Gump's supposed charms were completely lost on me.)

Allen

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I can't believe that anyone would give Mr. Bean's Holiday a negative review! It was excellent! Okay, it was more sentimental than the average Bean skit, but it worked well within the given story and suited the warm, sunny atmosphere of Southern France. I think Rowan Atkinson gave a wonderful performance and displayed some of his best pieces of physical comedy ever.

If that reviewer from The Guardian believes that Bean doesn't belong in this "post-Borat world" then I'm thinking that I don't belong here either. Of course, I'm saying this not having seen Borat, but every clip I've seen of it has turned me off. I don't think it's my kind of humour at all -- and I pride myself on having a fairly dark and sick sense of humour.

[sorne.livejournal.com]

This should appeal to those of you with a dark and sick sense of humour - I read a news story that Borat is being sued by all the people he made fun of in his movie ie we made you rich, now cough up! *grin*

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

I'm not that keen on lawsuits, but I do understand that where they'd be coming from. And I think things like Borat are tailored to make people look more idiotic than normal.

There was a Rick Mercer sketch segment (later compiled into a comedy special) called Talking to Americans, where he'd bluff Americans into saying completely stupid things about Canada. While most Americans don't know a lot about Canada, I think a lot of the humour just came from people not wanting to admit they didn't know something or actually disagreeing on camera. They humour the guy with the microphone and so appear really dumb.

Allen

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

That is pretty ironic. *g* It will be interesting to see who wins the lawsuit. I wonder how the prosecutors are going to argue the case. I'm guessing they'll argue for slander.