How not to survive in a crisis (Mr. Bean)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Mr. Bean
Date:	02/12/08 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great side splitting family humour

Disadvantages: none..unless you don't like Bean

Creator: Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis.
Writers: Rowan Atkinson, Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis and Ben Elton.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson.

Released in early 1990 until mid 1996, creating 14 half hour shows starring Rowan as a bumbling idiot who simply stumbles through life... usually at the expense of others.
Mr Bean is the brain child of Atkinson, though of whilst studying at Oxford University... performing a few quick sketches at the Edinburgh fringe in early 1980.
It is a simple format with very few characters involved... although each character and each 'prop' has a vital role in the creation and administration of the comical genius which is Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean.


* THE MAIN CHARACTERS:

* Mr Bean himself...

Mr Bean, (having no first name) is a very slow minded person who can be somewhat selfish at times...although sometimes he does come up with some ideas that only an insane genius could think of...
But even though he can be so daft and sometimes irritating he does comes across as a bit of a lovable fool deep down.
He lives in a flat in London alone, apart from his very good friend 'Teddy', who he is constantly treating as if it were his child... sometimes grunting some strange noises to it instead of talking, as he rarely speaks during the series at all.
Bean seems to always be wearing a tweed Jacket, which does become his trade mark throughout the entire series.
His ability to make even the simplest of tasks seem so outstandingly difficult... like a simple swimming trip or even a late appointment when he has to get ready whilst driving to his meeting, and especially when decorating his flat..?


*Teddy

This is Beans 'best friend' who he seems to worship as if it were real.
It is a brown woollen knitted teddy with buttons sown on as eyes with its legs and arms looking reattached after several 'accidents'.
Bean is always seen 'talking' to the teddy, (although when I say talking I really mean making silly noises), as if it were as alive as he is... sometimes making the teddy move in a childish gesture.
But, even though Bean loves his Teddy he sometimes uses the knitted object as such things like a paint brush or a cloth


* The little Yellow Mini

Beans car is a 1970s mark 2 Mini 1000 which he loves as if it were his pride and joy... making the mini a star in its own right. (although the car does change during the first couple of series).
The well known car was yellow with a black bonnet, having a sliding bolt and padlock as its security device...together with a removable steering wheel, which brings a bit of confusion during certain episodes.
The car is an essential part in many of the episodes, for example when Bean is late for an interview or when he has to use the Mini to carry an armchair home...
The mini does seem to have it's own nemesis in the form of a blue Reliant Regal, which leads to some rather comical scenes.


* Irma Gobb (played by Matilda Ziegler)

She is seen as Beans girlfriend who does appear in several episode throughout the series.
She seems to be able to tolerate the rather childish and sometimes inconsiderate actions from Bean even waiting for a proposal of marriage from the bumbling buffoon.
However, it does seem as though Bean sees his relationship with Irma very differently, looking on her more as a friend than a lover, but he does seem to show some signs of jealousy in one or two episodes.


* One off characters

Some well known acters have made an appearance through out the shows...such as ..: Richard Wilson, David Schneider, Roger Lloyd Pack, Angus Deayton, Richard Briers, Nick Hancock, Caroline Quentin and even Danny La Rue.


* IN CONCLUSION

Mr Bean is one of them characters which you either instantly love or instantly hate, his bumbling antics are hilariously stupid that you have to laugh or you'd cry.
Each episode leads him into a new situation, which a 'normal' person would deal with easily, but Bean is no normal person and even a simple situation causes much chaos for the mumbling fool.
The episodes are mainly split into shortish sketches, (three, four or five per episode), some coinciding with the previous but some are just slotted in for fun.
There are just so many laughs surrounding some of the adventures this man can get into whilst simply going about his day to day life, and the way in which he deals with the situations is sometimes so far fetched you know it just might work, (although you could be wrong..?)

As for Rowan Atkinson, well, he certainly made his character work to perfection, making the slightly annoying but ever so forgivable rubber faced buffoon with a strange out look on life so hypnotically funny that you can't help but laugh.
Rowan really does well in entertaining the audience with very few words... simply using his acting abilities and the odd silly noise to bring across such rather stupidly hilarious scenarios... making Bean seem like a child in an adults body, using so few props to bring so much fun for the entire family... let's face it, the little knitted Teddy and his yellow mini is as famous as the rubber faced man himself...

When I watch this show I do tend to think of Rowan in his role as Edmund Blackadder...waiting for the sarcastic comments to start, or the digs at Baldrick... but then the buffoon Bean character kicks in and I soon realise that this character is a far cry from the Blackadder days... although it does go to show that Rowan does have a wide range of acting skills which can be called upon for most areas...

If you are a fan of Mr Bean and want to get a copy then you can get the full series from www.amazon.co.uk for less than £30.00, which even includes a Comic relief sketch and 3 animated episodes for that extra bit of entertainment. What a bargain for nearly 6 hours of side splitting comical entertainment.



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* EPISODE LIST (can be avoided in case of boredom)

*1 Mr Bean

It's Mr Beans maths exam and he is running late... but even when he arrives he begins to annoy the other candidates as he organises his desk with many many items to aid him pass his exam.
But panic sets in when he realises that he has been given the wrong paper for his exam, or though he thinks.
Then, with a trip to the beach he causes much chaos as he tries to get changed on the beach.
Finally a trip to a church service isn't as peaceful as first hoped, especially for the others as.
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* 2 The return of Mr Bean

When Bean realises he has no change to give to a busker he decides to get some in a most unconventional way.
A trip to the supermarket is not quite a normal day out as Bean decides to test before he buys... but things get even more complicated for him when his credit card gets mixed up with another mans.
Then a trip to a restaurant has it's pitfalls as the food he orders isn't to his liking, but as he doesn't want to cause a fuss he decides to take some drastic action... much to the disgust of he other diners.
Finally, we see Mr Bean standing in a line, preparing to meet the Queen, but as he feels as though his appearance may not be up to scratch he decides to do a little last minute preening, with some hilarious results... although when the queen does arrive things go drastically down hill for the buffoon.
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*3 The Curse of Mr Bean

A trip to the local swimming baths seems to be going well, until Bean decides to give the high diving board a try, but things get even worse for him when he somehow misplaces his trunks... Then on his way out of the car park he tries to avoid paying the car park fee in a way only Bean can do.
Then, a simple trip to the park turns farcical as he attempts to make a sandwich for his lunch.
Finally, a date with his girlfriend to the cinema to watch a horror film really does turn into a nightmare.
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*4 Mr Bean goes to Town

Buying a new television for his flat is the easy part but getting a good reception turns into a challenge for Bean, until he comes up with a rather ingenious idea.
Then, in the park, bean has his camera stolen by a thief, (Nick Hancock), which leads to a rather unusual police line up to identify the culprit.
But things go even more downhill for him as he loses a shoe whilst out shopping and a simple task of having his photograph taken isn't quite what it seems.
Finally, When Bean takes Irma to watch a magic show things really do go embarrassingly wrong for her as he steals the limelight in the only way he knows how.
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*5 The trouble with Mr Bean

Late for his dental appointment Mr Bean decides to get ready on his way, in the way only he can, using his treasured Mini as a changing room, as well as a bathroom.
On reaching the dentist there is more chaos as he has a battle of minds with a young boy over a Batman magazine?
Inside the dentist chair things seem to be getting worse as Bean ends up doing a bit of DIY as the dentist, (played by Richard Wilson) becomes inadvertently helpless due to Beans incompetence.
Then, a trip back to his local park turns sour for a young boy and his remote control boat, and not to mention a poor man in a wheelchair, as Bean arrives.
Finally, after causing more chaos than anyone can handle, Bean decides to have a picnic, only he first has to deal with an annoying wasp.
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* 6 Mr Bean rides again

A simple bus trip for the rubber faced buffoon turns into a catastrophe as he tries to help a collapsed man in the only way he can... with the aid of some jump leads and a lamp post.
Then, even posting a letter turns into utter madness as he accidentally swallows his only stamp, leaving him to come up with one of his very disillusioned plans... landing him in a very awkward situation with the royal mail..?
Back at home, he begins to pack for his holiday, only his case isn't quite big enough for what he wants to take, so he resorts to trimming down his items so as to close the lid, although the end result beggars belief, even for him.
Then on a train trip things seem a little settled until the man in the seat opposite begins to annoy Mr Bean, forcing him to take some drastic action... with some hilarious consequences.
Finally, on the plane, Bean is seated next to a boy who is suffering from air-sickness so he does his best to cheer him up, pulling funny faces and using some make-shift props, but things go disgustingly wrong when a simple bag bursting gag turns sour.
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* 7 merry Christmas Mr Bean

It's Christmas and a shopping trip to Harrods is not one of Mr Beans brightest ideas as he begins to cause chaos once more... including assaulting a father Christmas and ruining a nativity scene.
But even when he then meets up with Irma in the town centre things still don't calm down as he is soon involved in conducting a band and steeling the towns tree.
Then. Back at home, he starts to get ready for Christmas by making a rather special cracker.
Finally, It's Christmas day and Mr Bean wakes up to see what Father Christmas has left him... and Teddy. Then as he begins to make his Christmas dinner things go wrong straight away as he first loses his watch and even manages to get his head stuck in a very awkward place just before his girlfriend arrives.
Then as the two settle down for dinner they decide to pull the homemade cracker with devastating results.
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* 8 Mr Bean in room 426

With Mr Bean staying at a high class hotel things soon begin to happen, including Teddy having his head taken off in a draw accident, a tipping fiasco for the bell boy, some rather inappropriate DIY and a rather bizarre incident in the dining room.
Unfortunately for Bean he becomes ill due to eating some dodgy food, leaving him in agony in in hotel bedroom... but his attempt to seek peace and quite leave him stranded in complete embarrassment.
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* 9 Mind the Baby Mr Bean

A trip to the funfair turns into a bit of a fiasco for the hapless man when he somehow ends up holding the baby, literally, Leaving him with no choice but to entertain the little one until he can find its parents, but he soon changes his mind once things start becoming difficult, only leaving the baby is not so easy as he first thought... leading to some rather disastrous consequences... including a mishap with a goldfish in a bag, plus a bunch of helium balloons.
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* 10 Do It Yourself Mr Bean

A party organised by Bean for a few friends doesn't go as planned as the guest become a little bored... tricking Bean into ending his party early.
Then, in the January sales Bean causes chaos as he firstly jumps the queue to get into the store then battling with an old lady when they both have their eyes on a reclining chair, forcing Bean to use some devious plan to get what he wants.
Even his journey home is a little different as he need to get his sale bargains back to his flat, using some very ingenious, if not rather hazardous methods involving a chair, some paint tins and a length of string.
Finally, back at home, he decides to redecorate his flat, with the help of Teddy, only his method of painting isn't your usual... involving many dust sheets, an opened tin of paint and a rather large firework... but an unexpected visitor spoils the finished effect.
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* 11 Back to School Mr Bean

A simple trip to an open day at a school soon turns nasty as Bean arrives to start upsetting the other visitors, including a band of cadets and a stamp collector.
Meanwhile, a visit to the chemistry lab becomes hazardous as Bean mixes a volatile cocktail which devastates the lab...
Then with much more confusion in the school, including a rather embarrassing moment when he has to draw a nude modal, a judo lesson with a difference and a wrong pair of trousers, things just go from bad to worse.
Even getting back to his car in the car park has its difficulties for Bean when his car is involved in a rather tricky situation.
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* 12 Tee off Mr Bean

A trip to the laundrette is on the cards for the lovable oaf... only this is no ordinary trip as the items he wants washing are somewhat strange to say the least, plus there's a mix up with his washing and when a bully begins to taunt Bean he decides to seek revenge.
Then, as he relaxes by playing a round of Crazy golf he starts of well, then things start to go the way they normally go for the man...downhill...as the ball goes off course slightly, forcing Bean's games to last a little longer than he intended.
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* 13 Goodnight Mr Bean

A mishap in his kitchen forces Bean to take a trip to hospital with a teapot stuck to his hand, but he is soon annoyed by the slow service and decides to take drastic measures to see a doctor... causing more trouble for everyone around him.
Then, Bean manages to upset a member of the queens guard whilst taking a photograph... g some props to get a perfect picture... but things don't quite go to plan.
Finally, even trying to get to sleep cause Bean some trouble as he tries everything to help him nod off.
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* 14 Hair by Mr Bean

There's confusion at the barbershop as Mr Bean is mistaken for a barber, much to the horror of the customers.
And with another trip to the fair sees the buffoon winning some prizes by cheating somewhat... then as he enters Teddy into a dog show he creates more chaos amongst the real dogs in the arena...
Finally, a trip home on the train leaves Bean destined for colder climates as he tries to board the train without a ticket... forcing him to use an alternative plan to get passed the guard.
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Plus many spin offs... including two movies and an animated series.

Summary: There's a Mr Bean in everyone