Mr. Bean's Holiday

Mr. Bean's Holiday is currently streaming in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Rowan Atkinson's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on BINGE — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Mr. Bean's Holiday keeps coming up in conversation. Mr. Bean's Holiday does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things. Rowan Atkinson and Willem Dafoe lead a cast that never overplays a joke. Mr. Bean's Holiday came out in 2007. What keeps Mr. Bean's Holiday from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Mr. Bean's Holiday is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Rowan Atkinson's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.