BEAN (PG-13)
A movie review by E. Benjamin Kelsey
* * (out of four)
British Comedy has somewhat of a cult following in America. Like Trekkies (and I hope that I don't have to explain what those are), extreme fans of British Comedy are very devote enthusiasts when it comes to their choice of "quality television". But whether you're more likely to recognize names such as John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson (who plays Mr. Bean) or Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris, BEAN the movie is sure to disappoint.
The problem is that BEAN is likely to attract, at least for the most part, only die hard fans of the brainless British buffoon. Yet it is this same group who will likely find the movie so sadly disappointing. For one, some of the gags in the film are taken directly from the TV show! But is seeing Mr. Bean with a turkey stuck on his head any funnier when it takes place in L.A. as opposed to the United Kingdom? Not really. For another, even the "fresh" material falls so far short of the Mr. Bean that people have come to know and love, that it won't really matter.
Those who are unfamiliar with Mr. Bean may enjoy the film more than those expecting a 90-minute interpretation, but BEAN doesn't ignite any of the charm that the television series has. The wonderful doofiness that this character possesses is nearly lost in a big screen adaption.
BEAN does have a fairly short running time, even for a comedy. But this fact does not prevent the movie from seeming to drag a tad too long. And when they try to cram a serious plot twist in near the end, the tone of the movie prevents the audience from really caring. In fact, it's merely a distracting obstacle in the plot that serves the story nil. But then again, how else are you going to fit in those "oh-so-funny" hospital bits?
Ok, so I laughed a few times. And like so many other movies, there were some funny scenes that made me wish I could recommend this film. But there just isn't enough here to get a recommendation out of me. If you really want to savor Mr. Bean, you'd be much better off buying the available videos that contain episodes from the TV series. And with the price of movie admissions going up more and more, even your wallet might be grateful!
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