MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY

2007, Universal/ Studio Canal

Live action

Rating: G

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

Mr. Bean wins a trip to the beaches of Cannes, but the journey proves far more trying than it should be. In typical Bean style, he encounters-- and mostly causes-- havoc at every turn, culminating in the unwitting abduction of a young boy.

The pair exhaust every possible means of getting to Cannes, one motivated by the desire to see his father, the other by his desire to see the beach. After a series of (mis)adventures, they become involved with a young starlet who eventually helps them reach Cannes and solve all of their problems.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• damn
• idiot

VIOLENCE:

• none

TEACHING POINTS:

• If I had to find something beyond simply 'it's funny', it would probably be that people can surprise you with their changes of heart 

THE UPSHOT:

This was an instant hit with the seven-year old and the adults in the room. We all started laughing from about minute 1, and there were plenty more opportunities as the movie went on. It's the kind of film about which you'll find yourself reminding others (a la 'remember the scene in the restaurant when he eats the shellfish?') before you all fall into gentle smiles and laughter.

One of the definite highlights of the film-- aside from Rowan Atkinson's amazing talent for physical and facial humour-- is Willem Defoe's performance as a pretentious actor/ director. Fabulous.  

The film operates on a very simple premise with a very uncomplicated plot. The humour is typically visual and obvious. The film also has very little dialogue, which makes it highly accessible even for younger kids. This is something everyone in the room can enjoy. 

4.5/5