Mr. Bean's Holiday (G, 2007)

common sense media says

Slight, slapstick-heavy comedy will amuse kids.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids are sure to giggle at Mr. Bean's ridiculous mugging and all of this comic farce's falls, accidents, and treacherous near-misses. Although the movie doesn't have much dialogue (you don't really need it to keep up with Bean's broad humor), what little there is, is mostly in subtitled French (or Russian), which could be tricky for kids who aren't yet proficient readers. And a few moments could be scary (a faux military attack on a quiet village, for instance) if kids aren't good at distinguishing real from imaginary.

Positive messages: Mr. Bean's intentions are always good, but his behavior is quite inappropriate at times (which is the whole joke behind the character): He displays bad manners, is inconsiderate of others, and generally causes trouble wherever he lands. He sometimes "borrows" things that don't belong to him, and he doesn't always give them back. In the end, the film has a nice (if not exactly trumpeted) message about helping people and doing the right thing.

Violence & scariness: Cartoonish, exaggerated slaps, falls, and pratfalls throughout. A suicidal man jumps off a bridge, but no physical injuries are shown on screen. A vicious dog with bared teeth appears suddenly (but briefly). A military attack on unsuspecting villagers is quickly revealed to be part of a movie production.

Sexy stuff: Mr. Bean has a very innocent crush on Sabine.

Language: Not applicable.

Consumerism: A Sony video camera plays a prominent role in the movie.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the differences between animated violence and cartoonish, live-action violence that features real people in dangerous situations. How do you know when something "violent" is meant to be funny and not scary or real? Why does Mr. Bean get in so much trouble? Does he mean to cause so much damage? How does he feel when he realizes what he's done?

What's the story?

In MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY, Rowan Atkinson returns as the accident-prone simpleton who's completely out of his depth in the sophisticated, high-tech world in which he lives. This time out, Londoner Mr. Bean wins a dream vacation to the glorious French Riviera. Along the way, he's inadvertently (but no less directly) responsible for separating Stephan (Max Baldry), a bright and appealing young boy, from his caring father, Emil (Karel Roden). Chaos and mayhem follow as Mr. Bean tries to get the pair back together. In incident after incident, Mr. Bean makes all the wrong choices and all the wrong moves, until good fortune and Sabine (Emma de Caunes), a beautiful French actress, smile on him and lead him and Stephan to their happy endings.

Is it any good?

Mr. Bean's Holiday is directed and performed in a way that's very reminiscent of a silent movie. Most of the laughs come from the rubber face, wide eyes, and clueless behavior of the talented Atkinson. It's slapstick in some places, parody and satire in others.

This Mr. Bean film features moments of uproarious humor -- as well as scenes that are repetitive, go on too long, and have a "seen-that-before" aura. Sequences in which Mr. Bean encounters a giant prawn in an elegant restaurant, tries to earn money as a street musician, and lets all of the hot air out of auteur film director Carson Clay (Willem Dafoe) in a Cannes Film Festival screening room are works of comic genius. Other scenes -- say, when Mr. Bean gets stuck in a tiny shack, or leaves something vital behind by mistake (again) -- are less-inspired. Bottom line? Audiences who like their laughs with subtlety and wit will find a lot lacking. But fans of Mr. Bean won't be disappointed. And kids of all ages who idolize Wile E. Coyote will be charmed.

Movie themes & details

Themes

misfits and underdogs

Movie Details

Studio: Studio Canal
Director: Steve Bendelack
Cast: Max Baldry, Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: August 23, 2007
DVD release: November 27, 2007
MPAA Rating: G

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This review was written by Renee Schonfeld

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Luke Jacobs
parent of 15 year old

Perfect for 6 year olds that are about to turn 7.

In this movie, at one point, the little boy was speaking in another language, so it had to use subtitles. one of the words in the subtitles did say the d-word.

What other families should know

Movie Details

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Genre

Mr. Bean's Holiday (G, 2007)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Mr. Bean's Holiday

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Themes

Movie Details

Watch our review

Review It

Review Mr. Bean's Holiday

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Perfect for 6 year olds that are about to turn 7.

AWFUL MOVIE

good for smaller kids

Good, clean, fun

good but mr.bean even though he seems nice and his intetions are good he is not a good role model

perfect for all ages

Funny

6 and up

Frenchie

Good Family Movie for 4+

Diaster movie

mr. bean

"Bean Sabine Bean Sabine Bean Sabine!"

OK, but not great

suicide a joke?

Mr. Bean is funny

Go Mr. Bean!

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