Parents' Guide to Mr. Bean's Holiday

Movie G 2007 90 minutes
Mr. Bean's Holiday Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Renee Schonfeld By Renee Schonfeld , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Slight, slapstick-heavy comedy will amuse kids.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

  • 1:42
  • Mr. Bean's Holiday Trailer
  • Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean stands on the side of the road in a suit, thumb up. There is a small stone next to him that reads "D 67, Altitude 466"

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
age 8+

Based on 23 parent reviews

 

 

See all 23 parent reviews
age 6+

Based on 41 kid reviews

Kids say the movie is generally seen as funny and enjoyable for younger audiences, particularly due to its slapstick humor and charming character, though many older fans feel it lacks the comedy of past works. Several reviews point out the film's mild themes and some disappointing moments, highlighting that while it can entertain children, it might not meet the expectations set by earlier portrayals of the character.

  • family-friendly comedy
  • mild themes
  • enjoyable for kids
  • lacks classic humor
  • slapstick antics
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 41 kid reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say ( 23 ):
Kids say ( 41 ):

This film is directed and performed in a way that's reminiscent of a silent movie; most of the laughs come from the talented Atkinson's rubber face, wide eyes, and clueless behavior. 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Mr. Bean's Holiday Poster Image

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate