Customer Reviews

Mr Bean: Best Bits of Mr Bean [VHS]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a huge Bean fan for years, and it was an easy decision to buy this DVD based on the description. I did my best to put on his homeroom sketch for my high school talent show, and almost got it approved, but anyway, that's another story.
Mr. Bean is indeed an instant classic, and even if you think you hate British comedy, this will probably win you over anyway.
However, beware that you are NOT purchasing 11 full "episodes". You are purchasing a single flashback episode that flashes back to 11 short selections from Bean episodes.
If you dont believe me, note that the total running time is 77 minutes. Subtract the movie trailers, the credits, the intro, and what you have is about an hour of footage, about half of which is the filler between flashbacks. Now, it is quite hysterical filler about Mr Bean rummaging through his attic and playing with his teddy, but it's still filler, and it's still a flashback episode. If you hate flashback episodes then dont bother.
To paint by numbers, the episode "Mr Bean Helps a Street Performer" is about 1 minute and 5 seconds long. Most of the episodes are around 2-5 minutes long. Now, multiply that by 11 episodes, and you have about 40 minutes or less of old Mr Bean highlights for the price of a full DVD. If you ask me, you're money is better spent on Monty Python episodes, or for that matter, the Rowan Atkinson Live tape!

Don't get me wrong, the footage is 5 stars - hilarious, being made up of skits from the BBC sitcom, "Mr. Bean", starring the brilliant Rowan Atkinson, but it is just a compilation. True fans will save their money for the complete series on DVD. Well, we have Blackadder, now where is Mr. Bean and "The Thin Blue Line" on DVD? Bean is completely opposite of Blackadder and Thin Blue Line in that as Bean, Rowan is all but mute and completely relies on physical comedy, where as in Blackadder (as Edmund) and Thin Blue line (as Inspector Fowler) Rowan talks his head off and the main source of comedy is in the dialogue, although physical comedy is not absent by any means. Those who only know Rowan for being Bean may be shocked when they see Blackadder or Blue line for the first time because of the drastic character change, but trust me he's just as funny with words as he is with physical action. "The Best Bits of Mr. Bean" is fine for a rental or for an extremely casual fan, but bigger fans of Rowan and Bean are still waiting for the complete series on DVD. I can highly recommend the Blackadder 5 disc DVD set, which contains all 4 series (24 episodes), a reunion special, and other goodies (read my review of that item for much more detail) but I recommend saving your money for the complete "Mr. Bean" series. The BBC series' "Mr. Bean" and "The Thin Blue Line" are essential comedy and I can't wait until they are represented as well as the brilliantly hilarious "Blackadder" series.

"The Best of Mr. Bean" contains short vignettes about the happenings in Mr. Bean's life, whether it is a trip to Harrod's at Christmas time, or his birthday, New Year's Eve, after holiday sales, the horror film, church, a trip to the beach or park, a visit from Royalty, and more.

Some of the quirkiness you come to associate with Mr. Bean is just that; it's what makes him tick.

The humor is sometimes pratfall but also intelligent as well. On the other hand, there is a darker side to Mr. Bean that you may not recognize until you see it, so be forewarned, it could be misconstrued. Personally, I felt a bit saddened by some of this darker side, but usually Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) adds just a bit extra that doesn't leave you feeling put out.

There is some adult humor but children will recognize this; for example, the thumb caught in the fly of the pants; there are few if any other double-entendres that would cause parents to be concerned.

I would rate this humor as PG or PG-13, because there is one scene of rear nudity that discerning parents may want their children to miss.

All in all, a funny DVD that has its best moments interspersed with slower parts; sometimes predictable, but classic bits just the same.

I just recently got into Mr. Bean after seeing "Mr. Bean's Holiday" in theaters. I loved the humor, and I quickly looked for something on Amazon to get to see more. I devoured every episode and skit on this DVD, and began to watch the extra features, with my children who up to this point had been loving Mr. Bean as well.

The documentary on Mr. Bean includes footage of the "Not the 9:00 News" show he was on, and the opening credits of that show include nudity in the form of dancing topless women, not cartoon or Monty Python type. Needless to say I was surprised by that.

I had been so glad to find some good, clean British humor that was safe for my family to watch too, but we're not keeping this one :(.

The episodes themselves are great. I understand that "The Turkey" skit in "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean" and the "Armchair" skit in "Do It Yourself Mr. Bean" have excluded some scenes that were originally aired, but the character of Mr. Bean is hilarious, and the precarious situations he continually finds himself in will keep you rolling. Just be careful if you have small children.

I am an avid fan of Mr. Bean! I love him! This is in my opinion, a collection of the very best episodes known to mankind! Great! Couldn't stop laughing! My 3 and 5 year olds even love him! Long live Mr. Bean!!

Great show! My students love it. So goofy, yet so few words. A must have for anyone who loves comedy.

If you want the entire story of each featured on here, then you'll be disappointed. If you want some of the funniest scenes of the series, then this is the place! And there are a lot of funny stuff on here. This is the Best of Bean. My personal favorite story is when Mr. Bean can't stay awake in church. This is a great introduction to Bean for those who have never watched an episode, for old fans like me, you get the best highlights of the series but just don't expect to get the entire episode.

Overall great to get, especially if you don't mind not having the entire story

The best of Mr. Bean's episodes. Many of the scenes were not edited so there is some brief nudity. Mr. Bean continues to tickle the funny bone.

This product showed the best of Mr.Bean programs. It gave me and my grandchildren hours of good entertaiment. I strongly recommend it.

A lot of people are complaining about the length of the clips but if you look in the title it says the best "bits" which means they are only short clips. I think this video does a good job of selecting some of the Classic Mr.Bean moment. All of Mr. Bean is funny but if you want the most popular and most haliarous moment this is a good video to buy.