Movie · 2007 · Family, Comedy · 1h 30m · G · English
Curator score: 3.5/10 (333.9K ratings)
Disaster is just a small step away.
Overview
Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.5/10
IMDb: 6.4/10
Letterboxd: 3.34/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Metacritic: 56
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
Steve Bendelack
Production
Tiger Aspect, Working Title Films, StudioCanal, Motion Picture Alpha Produktions, Universal Pictures
Cast
Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Maxim Baldry, Karel Roden, Emma de Caunes, Steve Pemberton, Jean Rochefort, Michel Winogradoff, Adrien Rodrigue, Bams Betga-Tchouni, Julie Fournier, Julie Ferrier, Lily Atkinson, Preston Nyman, Sharlit Deyzac, Francois Touch, Arsène Mosca, Stéphane Debac, Philippe Spall, Pascal Jounier
Curator Review
Verdict
A broad, mostly family-safe slapstick road movie that plays best as a showcase for Rowan Atkinson’s physical comedy and for viewers who enjoy low-stakes chaos. It’s uneven and very silly, but the Cannes backdrop, wordless gags, and occasional sweetness give it enough charm to work if you’re in the right mood.
Best for
fans of physical comedy and silent-era style gags
families looking for a light, non-cynical comedy
viewers who enjoy fish-out-of-water travel stories
people who like absurd, escalating mishaps more than plot
Skip if
you want sharp dialogue or character depth
you dislike broad slapstick and humiliation comedy
you need a tightly structured story
you’re not amused by a very childish sense of humor
Overview
Mr. Bean’s Holiday is built on a simple idea: take an almost wordless comic engine and drop it into postcard France. The result is a string of set pieces that are often more charming than clever, but the charm is real. Rowan Atkinson remains an expert at turning tiny misunderstandings into elaborate disasters, and the film knows how to frame him against sunlit streets, train stations, and beaches for maximum comic contrast.
Worth noting
The movie is at its best when it leans into pure visual comedy and the awkward kindness of Bean’s accidental heroism. The Cannes setting gives it a playful, slightly glamorous backdrop, and the film occasionally brushes against genuine sweetness without ever slowing down for sentimentality.
Bottom line
It is also very much a one-joke movie, and that joke can wear thin if you prefer wit over slapstick. But if you’re open to a breezy, old-fashioned comedy that treats embarrassment like an art form, it’s an easy watch with a few genuinely inspired bits.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Paddington · 3594 likes
Mr. Bean is such a delightful man, though he did seem to find himself in quite a bit of trouble. I think traveling is much easier when one packs a proper itinerary.
Jay (2.5★) · 3091 likes
"students, are you ready to learn how to be professional directors?"
christopher nolan gulped.
quentin tarantino shuddered.
david fincher nodded.
wes anderson blinked nervously.
"yes carson clay from mr beans holiday" they said in unison.
mia lee vicino (3★) · 2085 likes
mr. bean is directly responsible for multiple deaths AND the blowing up of mr. willem dafoe — he has blood on his hands that shall never be cleansed
That’s right, we watched Mr. Bean’s Holiday again. It’s a G-rated film with a lead character pushing someone to suicide and becoming a Nazi! Show me a more watchable film!
1926 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 19m · NR · Curator 9.1/10 (214.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection
A masterclass in silent-era stunt comedy and escalating mishaps with a determined, accident-prone protagonist.