NOW ON DVD

MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY
Rated G
Rowan Atkinson, Emma De Caunes, Max Baldry

Brian’s Rating       

After a brief theatrical run, Mr. Bean’s Holiday has found its way to the videostore, where some parents will wonder, “Is this OK for my kids to watch?”

I guess I’ve always thought of Rowan Atkinson’s signature character as adult entertainment, although I can’t recall a single instance of inappropriate onscreen behavior and there’s certainly none here. The real challenge for fans of Britain’s favorite nerd is watching the long-form version of his antics, which are customarily limited to much shorter episodes on television.

As we watch Mr. Bean’s travels from London to Cannes, courtesy of a sweepstakes drawing, the scenes seem protracted, even tedious, as if the director were watching the clock to make sure that he filled up the full 90 minutes.

Despite the movie’s slow pace, Mr. Bean’s Holiday still delivers enough laughs to cover the rental. And your kids will like it, too.