Monsieur Hulot is waving his hat throughout this modern day slapstick brilliant work of art and wit. Bean and Steve Bendelack's tasteful directing and sense of composition bring us to the verge of tears at moments as they manage to bridge the Franco British cultural bridge better than centuries of malicious so-called diplomacy. Before Bienvenue chez les Chtis the south of France / Channel shores clash is explored with an impressive display of indisputable talent. The French peasant on his solex bike embodies the genius of Mr Bean's Holiday. The ludicrous French bike solex which Bean thinks will come and rescue him in this deserted landscape of endless wheat fields moves so slowly it does barely grow in the horizon. The French take their time, they know how to enjoy life. They chose to work 35 hours weeks to enjoy life to the full, making a reality the US entertainment fantasy motto "life is for living"; The contrary of the alienating work ethics fueled by guilt and greed imposed upon the people in the UK and the US. England chose to scrap the whole peasant class early in the XIXth century when the French kept their tariffs to protect their rural world. A French peasant on a slow moving solex comes to rescue Bean. Bean has time to take a nap before the solex reaches him. When it does Bean takes advantage of the French peasant's willing to help to try and steal his bike (the dark side of Bean) only to fail miserably and receive the punishment he deserves in the hilarious side of the road wood cabin prison trap. Bean is a very well written, very well acted and directed film, people behind it should be offered more films to make!
Review of Mr. Bean's Holiday
