Review

Atkinson's lovable mischief maker Mr. Bean makes a rather inauspicious theatrical debut. On the TV, Mr. Bean performs his hilarious and crazy antics in small set pieces, vignettes not really tied together by plot. This is possibly why they work so well. In a film stretched to 90 minutes and bound somewhat by narrative structure, only occasionally is Atkinson allowed to really let loose. The story has to do with Bean being sent by the British Museum as a guest speaker for a Los Angeles art museum unveiling "Whistler's Mother." Of course the bungling Bean knows nothing of art and gradually wreaks havoc around him. For some reason, the writers are content on snot and toilet humor, and these jokes fall flat. However, when not borrowing some TV gags (including the funny turkey bit), Atkinson does provide many a laugh when aiming his sights higher than the belt line.