Review

Mr Bean’s Holiday
Director: Steve Bendelack
Writer:  Robin Driscoll, Hamish McColl
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Emma De Caunes
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 89 mins
Seef Cineplex I  at  11.00 + 12.00 + 1.00 + 2.00 + 3.00 + 4.00 + 5.00 + 6.00 + 7.00 + 8.00 + 9.00 + 10.00 + 11.00 + 12.00

WITH an obvious nod to the 1953 classic Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday starring Jacques Tati, Mr Bean’s Holiday reacquaints us with the bumbling everyman (Atkinson) some 10 years after his first cinematic escapade, writes Arthur Storey.
Nothing much seems to have changed in the intervening years: the laconic hero still drives his beloved Mini, his taste in fashion errs towards the brown and grey, and he speaks largely in growls and grunts.
The plot of the sequel is a hook for the usual array of set pieces. These vary from the familiar to dazzling sequences of pure physical comedy.
Lady Luck unexpectedly smiles on Mr Bean when he wins a dream holiday to Cannes in his local church raffle, along with a nifty handheld digital camera.
With his tiny suitcase packed and his documents safely in the pocket of his blazer, Mr Bean ventures boldly into the French capital, arriving at the Gare du Nord via Eurostar.
From the moment he steps off the train, digital camera in hand, chaos spreads throughout Paris. Bean eventually finds his way to the Gare de Lyon and boards the train to the south coast.
Taking charge of the situation, as only Mr Bean can, the Englishman abroad tries to help Stepan, but only succeeds in losing his suitcase, money and documents - and then the boy.
Stumbling onto the set of a big budget yoghurt commercial directed by Carson Clay (Dafoe), Bean hooks up with pretty actress Sabine (de Caunes), who is driving to Cannes for the premiere of her film.
The film marks the final hurrah for Bean. He will be hanging up his loafers after this Continental adventure. Perhaps that’s no bad thing.