Why Rowan Atkinson Is So Funny As Mr. Bean

This video essay analyzes Rowan Atkinson's comedy acting in Mr Bean. Rowan has a unique ability to make people laugh and this video breaks down what makes Mr Bean so special that it is beloved around the world, even though Bean barely speaks.

FAIR USE NOTICE:
This video may contain copyright material; the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is made available under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made "fair use" for the purposes such as criticism, comment, review, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that otherwise might be infringing. All rights belong to its owners.

Music used:
Creature Comforts by Jonathan Boyle (Premium Beat)
Funderful by Jonathan Boyle (Premium Beat)
Waltz (from Coppelia) by Wilfred Symphony Orchestra (Shutterstock)
Ponchielli Dance of the Hours by Human Symphony Orchestra (Shutterstock)
Fresh Inspiration by DeKibo (Shutterstock)
Habanera by Bizet

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:52 The Five Senses
5:23 Embodying a Feeling
8:27 The Outsider

#mrbean #rowanatkinson #acting

[MenkoDany]

I found it astonishing when I learned that Mr. Bean's original run was only 15 episodes! As a kid, I could watch them on repeat endlessly and never notice. The mini cooper episode was my favourite

[DallyLama_EN]

I think Mr.Bean managed to do what Tom&Jerry also did. Making comedy without words.
It's so easy for anyone in the world to just watch any episode of mr.Bean at any point and end up being amused by what they see.

[rmanenti]

Rowan Atkinson is, in my opinion, one of the last great comedy actors. Even though the supporting cast do a great job, he carries the show on his shoulders, giving his body, mind, and soul to create such an experience that traverses time, still being just as fun as the first time you watch it.

[yotsubafanfan]

When I was first diagnosed with Autism as a small child my mom used to use Mr. Bean as an example on how not to behave in public. Thanks for being a great example Rowan Atkinson!

[AscendantStoic]

Mr.Bean might be Rowan's most popular and iconic character but I also like the hypercompetent yet incompetent secret agent Johnny English.

[iusedtowrite]

It's just so versatile. The physical comedy in the show is just brilliant and untouchable. You didn't have to understand what they were saying to laugh. Like as a kid who barely understood English, Mr Bean still was so much fun to me. It also holds up pretty well. It's very timeless

[Arvidus]

To me, Mr Bean is essentially the one succesful attempt at portraying a cartoon character in live action.

[populaarikuriositeetti]

In Finland, Mr. Bean short movies have longer title name "Mr. Bean - Nolojen tilanteiden mies" which means Mr. Bean - Man of embarassing situations. That has always described Mr. Bean in one sentence to me. He basically tries to act normal in absolutely embarassing and even chaotic situations. That makes him act over the top. He is clever, or atleast awerace level intellect man. But this situations drives him into panic, and soon he is in a middle of madness. Sometimes dopamine actually makes us act exactly like Mr. Bean. He is very easy to relate to, even he is outcast from known world. He is a everyman, but still outcast. You can even say he is a typical british everyman, who tries to hide what he truly is.

[iinvaderrand]

God I love this show so much. Rowan atkinson is amazing. A pure treasure.

[Jessica_Jones]

I'm supposed to be sleeping but instead was watching this and struggling so hard not to burst out laughing at all of his antics 😂 Thank you for this amazing essay and the pleasure of the best laughter I've had in a long time, lol

By the way, I noticed some particularly satisfying visual edits, subtle but meaningful. Appreciate the careful detail there, nicely done 👍🏼

[geodaet]

This quote of Atkinson "you have only 1 comedic performance in you" at the the end really got me thinking.

It is pretty much true, almost every famous (in some way comedic) actor has one standout role which pretty much defines him/her.

This is the role that feels most authentic and natural and I guess for the actor the most effortless because it is where his/her talent just lies.

I can't think of a single Comedian who isn't pretty much defined by one role that overshadows every other they have played.

[torstenscholz]

I think one more thing that makes Bean so great and relatable is his mix between being a relatable everyman and being an anarchist at the same time. On one hand, he tries to fit in with society and goes through easy, simple everyday tasks everyone is familiar with and has gone through himself, so it has simple, relatable plots with obvious goals he tries to achieve bot most of the time fails at. However, at the same time, he is also a very mean-spirited and selfish person that often behaves the complete opposite of what is accepted by society - he always tries to get personal advantage out of a situation, he cheats, he intentionally annoys and provokes others, he starts pointless duels with others and always wants to win and be first, and when something goes wrong, he always tries to make others get the blame for it. This is also very relatable because no matter how wrong his behavior is, who can say that he never acted like this? It just speaks to the little anarchist in all of us.

[ANDCFC]

UnIronically, when he speaks, he is very articulate and oozes charisma and charm.

[jonservo]

I remember when I first saw Mr bean on late night TV on PBS. The next day I tried to describe what I saw and how funny it was to my family. They didn't get it till the next week when it came on again. They saw it and it became one of our favorite shows to watch as a family.
Fast-forward 20+ years to Man vs Bee. I watched an episode and then called my family so we could all watch it together. For a brief moment it was just like all those years ago, everyone together and laughing. For that Rowan Atkinson will always be one of greats to me

[TBoneTony]

When I was a kid, I first watched Mr Bean at my Grandparents house back when they were alive.

They loved Mr Bean the character and the stuff he got himself into.
I do agree that with his Silent nature, it really called back to the original Silent Film comedies that my grandparents must have grown up with during the 1920s and 1930s.

[godz]

Honestly, Atkinson's performance is the closest someone else has ever gotten to Charlie Chaplin in a universally appealing comedic style in my opinion

[marcosdheleno]

that moment when you hear "maybe he is an alien" and the intro starts to make so much sense.

[darahdoyle]

Very good, very very good mate. It's hard to take any analysis of something as superficially silly as Mr Bean seriously, but you nailed it. Atkinson is supremely clever as a comic, the whole character of Bean is pure genius. Melding the heartfelt emotions of his journeys with the comedy of his failures is an act of mastery of the art.

[ashclaw]

oh, man!
You just unlocked a whole rabbit hole of memories...

[theantone]

Ahh Mr. Bean. My nana introduced me to him and Rowan Atkinson as a kid in the 2000s. We even tried collecting all the VHS tapes of Mr. Bean when we weren't watching him all day. Eventually I got the complete series on DVD and she even took me to see my favorite Mr. Bean movie - Mr. Bean's Holiday which was our last movie we saw together before she died

I'm convinced at times Mr. Bean ( as in the character) is putting on a act. There's moments I believe he gives that he knows more or is fully self-aware but still carries on with his act