by Jason Whyte

Jan 25, 2000

Rowan Atkinson is easily the most audacious, memorable screen actor to ever grace us. Looking at his world famous character from Brit TV, Mr. Bean, its no wonder why everyone loves him so much: he is a grown, middle aged man who has the pea sized brain and judgement of a three year old.

His long awaited arrival into Canadian and American theatres (it opened in Canada on Oct.17 and arrives in US on Nov.7) is very welcome, although the antics surrounding him in "Bean" and the story is awfully distracting. In "Bean", Mr. Bean is the museum attendant who is shipped across the ocean to L.A., with a painting entitled "Whistler's Mother", which is being sold to an army general (Burt Reynolds, a far cry away from his amazing performance in the year's best film, "Boogie Nights"). Bean meets up with a man from the art exhibit (Peter MacNicol) who takes him into his house, even though his family gets ticked off with Bean almost immeadiately and they move out.

Naturally, you can guess from the first ten minutes that Mr. Bean is going to screw up this painting royally, and he does, but it is so much fun watching him get there. The fun of this movie is figuring out what Bean is going to do next, especially in the film's funniest scene, almost worth the price of admission, where Bean goes on a virtual roller coaster ride at an amusement, falls asleep, and then goes behind the curtain to rig the machine to go faster.

When Bean finally messes up the painting, he REALLY messes it up, sneezing and wiping and coloring and finally burning it away with paint thinner. That is a masterpiece scene, a wonderful comic bit that is among the year's funniest.

If only all of "Bean" (Subtitled, "The Ultimate Disaster Movie", in more ways than one) were as sharp and as witty as the above scenes, then we would really have something. Instead, the director and writer had to settle for a third rate plot that only lasts 89 minutes, and inject it with such forgettable supporting characters. Hell, these characters don't even react (except for MacNicol, who is slightly engaging), even when Bean blows up a turkey in the microwave.

Also, the script had to put Bean in a hospital situation, a break and enter situation and other dilemmas that would have fared poorly in his TV career, which is how it should have been done in the first place, but with more originality. I liked "Bean", but not as much as I should have. That's a shame when Rowan Atkinson has put all of his heart and dynamism into such a Hollywood Timewaster.

Grade: B-

Tech Review:

Picture: 3 An OK picture quality with major fuzz and poor blacks (they look brown). Brightness is poor.

Sound: 4 A surprisingly rich Dolby Digital mix, even though that is the only mix it was done in. Certain sounds are very creative (listen for Bean calling to a guard over your right shoulder), which is fun to listen to.

Photography: 1 A major disappointment. Matted to 1.85, "Bean" has constantly poor framing and angles. All of it is shot on a flat tripod. No creativity was put into the framing. The director must have just plopped the camera on a tripod, turned it on, and walk away.

Length: 89 min. Rated PG for mild language.

 

by Richard LaFreniere

Jan 25, 2000

The all popular Mr. Bean of England comes to America for this extremely funny film. Bean is a security guard at the New England Art Galery. He is then assigned to be the unvailer of a famous painting at the Grissom Galleryin Los Angeles, California. Bean is send by first class in the airplane. Upon arrival, he is greeted by airport security who believes he is in posession of a firearm. Peter MacNicol plays "Dr. Bean's" guardian during the LA scenes and wonders if Mr. Bean is a genious or a mental lapse patient. We know as soon as the famous painting entitled "Whistler's Mother" is unvailed that Bean will somehow manage to screw it up. The fun of the movie is wondering what Bean will do to screw up next. My opinion is to go see it now and have a good laugh. If you dont, you'll bemissing a great oppurtunity that may not come until the sequal or BEAN 2.

 

by Big E Schmelly

Jan 25, 2000

The movie "Bean" was sumwhat funny, but wasn't worth spending 6.50 to see in a theater. I thought that the acting was good. It didn't really have a plot, and the plot that it did have was stupid. It was also very unreal, because no person with half a mind would do anything Bean did.

 

by Jennie

Jan 25, 2000

Well this movie wasn't on my "To See List" but my friend asked me to go and I did. I almost fell asleep during this movie! It had it's laughs but it wasn't anything good! It is for little kids and their parents, no one in between! Well if you have nothing better to do, go see this movie but if you don't care for it too much, "I told you so."

 

by Z-Man 9000

Jan 25, 2000

Plot: Mr. Bean, a security guard at a British museum, is sent over to L.A. where he will unveil "Whistler's Mother" at an American museum. He must also give a short speech about the painting. Assumed to be "Dr. Bean", he is taken in by a man who works at the museum. However, his family can't stand good ol' Mr. B. Anyhoo, Bean accidentally destroys the painting (which goes without saying) and must find a way to replace it.

Critique: Bean was a hilarious movie. The best scenes had roll-in-the-aisles humor (Mr. Bean's hors d'oeurves, the one way mirror, the destruction of the painting, Mr. Bean and Peter MacNicol's rendition of "Yesterday"). However, if you've seen nearly every episode of Mr. Bean, (like I have) you recognize some of the recycled jokes (falling asleep standing up, bordom on the thrill ride, and the infamous turkey stuffing). Another bothering thing about the movie is that anyone who really knows Bean knows that if he wrecked a famous painting on the TV show, he'd cut and run. The Mr. Bean in the film is a more caring Bean. Also, his painting speech is, I believe, the longest Mr. Bean has ever consecutively talked. Nevertheless, still a top notch effort.

"Ticket" rating: This movie recieves a "Good". You would think that it really wouldn't matter if a non-action movie like this is on a big screen or not, but the larger screen really enhances Rowan Atkinson's facial expressions.

Letter rating: B+

-Z-Man 9000 wants you to see "Bean". He commands you to. You are getting very sleepy. YOU WILL SEE "BEAN"!

 

by

Jan 25, 2000

ALT="[--- Wait For Rental ---]" BORDER=0></A></A><BR CLEAR="ALL"></TH> <TD VALIGN=TOP><A HREF="HOMEDIR/cgi/FindReviewer?Carmine+DeSpirito">by <B>Carmine DeSpirito</B></A>
Being a huge fan of british comedy, and Bean, this movie was an all time loser. With a capital "L"! British comedies have a certain artistic value to them. Bean (on tv) exemplifies this. Rowan Atkinson, plays Mr. Bean a very simple character but one that only Atkinson can truly portray. Consider Olivier as Henry the 5th or Stallone as Rocky. GOD ONLY CREATED ONE MAN TO PORTRAY THESE ROLES. With the ingenius Chaplinesque skits, which mind you can be appreciated in more countries, languages ad cultures than any other television show on the planet, Atkinson is a true comedy great. This americanized, bastardized version of Bean is just that the illegitimate son (like lock him up in the basement type) of a great british masterpiece. The producer, and director of this film to stick to producing comedies with no talents like Adam Sandler and Pauly Shore. Hopefully, with the sequel Rowan will find some talented people to work with rather than these American no-brainers. Get a smaller producer, hopefully foreign to do the next one. Oh, yeah rent the videos!

 

by

Jan 25, 2000

CLEAR="ALL"></TH> <TD VALIGN=TOP><A HREF="HOMEDIR/cgi/FindReviewer?Peter+Woods">by <B>Peter Woods</B></A>
When seeing the movie, If you watch the TV Show on HBO. Bean was a little disapointment for Bean fans of the TV Show. Use of TV jokes on the movie, make Bean not very funny. Bean is only good to rent on video than watching it on the big screen.

Rating:**1/2

 

by

Jan 25, 2000

CLEAR="ALL"></TH> <TD VALIGN=TOP><A HREF="HOMEDIR/cgi/FindReviewer?Terry+Crouse">by <B>Terry Crouse</B></A>
Mr. Bean is one of the funniest characters ever created for television. However, the movie version attempts to package Bean's spontaneous goofiness into a nice, neat, Americanized formulaic comedy. Don't get me wrong -- this is still a very funny movie. But too much time is spent developing a "storyline," which is totally unnecessary and takes far too much away from Bean's ingenious antics. If you're a fan of the TV show, as I am, you'll enjoy this one more on video, so you can fast forward to all the highlights (which are many).

 

by Denny Anderson

Jan 25, 2000

Mr. Bean is very funny - as a British production made for the Telly.

BEAN, the movie, is NOT funny. There are a few hilarious segments, but not enough to make up for a poorly conceived plot(?) and poorly executed production. The spontaneity of the Bean character was thoroughly degraded into that of a mostly humorless facial contortionist.

I strongly recommend avoiding wasting money, and especially valuable time, on the movie BEAN!

 

by Rick Gagliano

Jan 25, 2000

Rating: HORRENDOUSLY TERRIBLE at any price (except for a few parts) Truly Starring: Rowan Atkinson (or better known as Bean)

First of all....I truly hated it. I am not sure if this movie even deserves a review. Giving this film a poor review is still too kind. But I being the ultimate MRP (Movie Reviewing Professional) that I am, I will put forth my best efforts and be honest. This film sucked. It was like watching the life story of Barney, the purple dinosaur, over and over....no, it was more like watching the un-edited life story of Pee Wee Herman. Bean is a security guard at a famous art museum in England and as a way of getting rid of him for awhile, they send him to the United States under the guise of being a famed art guru. Well, he isn't and is simply Bean. For two hours, you sit there and watch a grown man grunt sounds and get himself into trouble. Imagine watching the `Three Stooges' for hours...you may or may not like their humor...but now imagine watching the `Three Stooges' for hours, but all played by the same person. It was horrendous. However, I will say one thing, I did laugh out loud at one or two scenes...they were stupid and totally inappropriate...but still kind of funny....just not funny enough to make me like this film. Bottom line...when this film comes out on video...it would make the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for someone you really don't like or someone who gave you a really rotten gift the year before.

 

by Eric W.

Jan 25, 2000

'Bean' is goofy enough, but just not quite enough good jokes to make it worth a full price admission. Rowam Atkison is very likable as Mr. Bean, but there just isn't quite enough material to sustain a 90 minute film. An excellent choice for home video or the value cinema.

 

by Marisa

Jan 25, 2000

The movie Bean keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times but not in terror. You just don't know what he will do next. This is definitly a crowd show or for a first date

 

by DAVID KLEJSMIT

Jan 25, 2000

I thought this movie was the funniest movie I have seen in a while. When I went to see the movie I didn't think it would be as funny as it looks. Bean plays a real nutcase who has to guard a painting. He screws up the painting by sneezing on the painting and then trying to wipe it off with a rag.

I can't tell you any more because I have already told you enought so I think you should see it now.

 

by Don Wozniak

Jan 25, 2000

Lots of funny gags in Bean but overall it was pretty strange. I've seen the Mr. Bean show on HBO and that seems to be better. The character is good for short skits, maybe not so much for entire movie. Still, if you just want to laugh, there's plenty of material to satisfy.

 

by Pammy S.

Jan 25, 2000

Bean was a good movie but it was gross and stupid at some parts although I have to say that it was funny too. But when you go and see this movie you might not like it. I really think that it wouuld be for someone younger then me!

 

by George Jobson

Jul 12, 2003

"Bean" starring Rowan Atkinson is funny, but not funny enough to recommend. I watch the series on PBS and I can not recall how mean the character is. In one scene, he's giving everyone the finger.