Why Rowan Atkinson Is So Funny As Mr. Bean
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- 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.
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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 - Zábava
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
There were only 15?
I swear it felt like seasons, I still got the old collection DVD's of em! :p
Same.. I never even noticed i watched them over and over when i was a kid
Wow thought it was more than that
I think this would be a perfect example of mandela effect
Well yeah but every episode is so iconic that you don't need many.
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.
and those are the best types of comedies. As a child, the first 50-70 episodes of tom and jerry are better than any comedic show or comedian ive watched and listened to today. Mr. Bean was another golden piece of my childhood as a little eastern european boy. Truly amazing talents.
Honestly, the best comedy I've seen in the last two decades come from Indian liquor ads. I'm not even kidding, Imperial Blue Ads have outstanding comedy with very few words.
@@satyakisil9711 i thought three idiots was also very good
@@blocksource4192 that is menippean satire. Not comedy.
Roadrunner is vastly superior to tom and jerry. Some of the gags are actual genius.
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.
Oh relax
@@EnjoySackLunch I'm relaxed. What about you?
@@rmanenti2112 I’m not the one swooning over a one trick, second rate physical comedian from 40 years ago.
@@EnjoySackLunch Calm down
@@kanalkanna sir, please
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!
I recommend we normalise weird behaviour in public society
More freedom and expression and less stigma :P
@@FireyDeath4 stigma nuts
@@FireyDeath4 Normalize this, normalize that. Why don't you just act normal
@@zalybrainlessgenius503 Being a normie of conformity is a silly way to live.
As long as you don't ruin other people you should be fine :P
Oh also, acting in a way that's too contrary to your psychology is apparently bad for your mental health sometimes
Kids can be really good at learning from bad examples. Kinda like how you know as a kid that homer simpson always does stupid things.
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
That's what's so beautiful about it. It's a comedy that speaks multiple languages without saying a word. He's that good at what he does, and I adore everything Rowan Atkinson does.
Mr.Bean might be Rowan's most popular and iconic character but I also like the hypercompetent yet incompetent secret agent Johnny English.
You might be the only one.
@@Adoniis101 I highly doubt that considering Johnny English got multiple movie sequels.
I always see Johnny English as Bean but as a spy. Talks more but ...yeah
Rowan also voiced Zazu, which he did a pretty great job
After Bean, my favourite character from him is Blackadder (who actually came out on TV before Bean), because it shows that Rowan is hilarious with or without talking. Shame that "Blackadder" is basically unknown outside of the UK, I'm from Brazil and only discovered it because my English teacher showed me an episode of "Goes Forth".
To me, Mr Bean is essentially the one succesful attempt at portraying a cartoon character in live action.
God I love this show so much. Rowan atkinson is amazing. A pure treasure.
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
Lovely story!
oh, man!
You just unlocked a whole rabbit hole of memories...
that moment when you hear "maybe he is an alien" and the intro starts to make so much sense.
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.
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
This man was my childhood
Yep
Honestly, Atkinson's performance is the closest someone else has ever gotten to Charlie Chaplin in a universally appealing comedic style in my opinion
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.
Thanks Darah
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.
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.
It’s amazing how much he can convey with just expressions
He is so Good that It doesn't even look like Acting, We all think He is like this in Real Life as well!
Some of my favorite memories of my mother was her cracking up at Mr. Bean. She is no longer with us but whenever I watch Atkinson perform, it takes me back to such a sweet time.
As much as Mr Bean can be an oddity, his desire to be accepted makes for some very affecting scenes. The Christmas episode, where he earnestly believes Irma was pointing to the image in the display rather than the ring itself, and her reaction to the gift makes you want to give the guy a hug (for extra sadness him doing traditional Christmas things usually done with others on his own, like Christmas cards and pulling crackers). The New Years episode as well, when Rupert and Hugo bring the clock forward so as to get out of the party Bean was throwing for New Year’s. He was so happy setting it up that when he’s in bed and realises he’s been had as others count down to midnight, you feel pity for him. He’s a kid who doesn’t get things the way other kids do, and when it leads to disappointment you feel for him.
Mr. Bean really has something special. I loved him as a child, even though I didn't know a single word of English.
I knew him as Blackadder first, so Mr. Bean was an adjustment. All I can say is he used to make my mom laugh hard, which was not an easy thing to do.
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.
"A lonely woman who might be an alien and struggles to do everyday tasks" might be the best slogan for my future biopic.
I was on a big inter-island ferry in Thailand once, with people from every nationality and language group. The boat played Mr Bean on the tv in the common room, and I noticed that everyone was laughing at this man, from every little corner of the earth.
Basically when a bee is in a man’s pants… it’s funny in every language
The pool scene never fails to make me laugh!!!
Any scene in Mr.Bean never fails to make me laugh.
Sadly the pool that served as the filming location has been demolished some years ago.
Wonderful analysis, Sir. I can't really put into words how much I appreciate and admire your work. Also your narrating is perfect.
As for Rowan Atkinson I think he's a genius, a truly one of a kind and imo; Rowan and Jim Carrey are the two most naturally gifted comedic actors in the world. Would've been nice to see you analyze Jim too.
Keep up the outstanding work.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
UnIronically, when he speaks, he is very articulate and oozes charisma and charm.
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 👍🏼
He's a comedic genius, plain and simple.
This video itself proves how good of an actor Rowan is. Even without the sound of the episode just seeing Mr Bean scramble and spasm had me laughing hard.
Just one of his facial expressions made me laugh out loud. Few people can do that. There was Stan Laurel eating a hard-boiled egg, then nothing, then Mr Bean.
Before i even watch this video imma say one thing:
Actions speak louder than words
Always! Words are meaningled compared to actions. However, more and more people choose words, and moan about what someone said as it automatically means that they even think what they said, actions are disregarded imao.
So basically Mr. Bean is noisier than Sr Pelo?
No actor can replace him in being Mr bean. He's a legend.
Rowan Atkinson is a brilliant physical comedian. The closest comedian to Rowan Atkinson might have been Jaques Tati (Atkinson himself has mentioned Tati as a major influence). The difference between the two is that Tati has an everyday (maybe somewhat deadpan) expression while Atkinson showers his face in an array of expressions in mere seconds. Both comedians are kinda foreign to normal life. They seem to learn to be human while we watch. Simple things become impossible obstacles.
More high brow approaches to a similar theme has been made by the german comedian Loriot. His approach to comedy was the collapse of communication between people and the environment. Misunderstandings, misinterpretations and being lost in a foreign environment led to strange situations that were still relatable. The people in these situations blindly move on even though the situation itself is already disastrous. Other than Atkinson, Loriot often added social and political commentary into these sketches like a backdrop.
I think good comedy lies in the way people do mistakes that are directly recognizable and still go on doing even more mistakes. In complete disregard of typical norms and their surroundings, they seem to be focused on the task they are currently working on. We have seen such situations in real life on a smaller scale. A driver who frontally rams a tree several times while trying to go backwards. Someone trying to go up steps to repeatedly stumble in ever more absurd ways. The people and situations are relatable while the results are completely unrealistic.
Atkinson, Tati and Loriot were said to be perfectionists and had often driven their team to the brink of collapse (not in the funny kind).
I think most people has had that friend or met that person who could explain the most every day task and come across hilarious and funny. I once heard a person, think it was some actor talking about this, he called it "funny bones". Atkinson is the embodiment of this phenomenon.
As a kid I always felt uncomfortable watching Mr.Beans. I cringed all the embarrassing moments, but looking at it now I guess it's my social awkwardness projecting. His pure joy at the simplest things is something I've missed.
I think Blackadder Goes Fourth is Atkinson's crowning achievement
Blackadder is definitely an underrated comedic marble but is less popular because it's more or less the exact opposite of Mr Bean - the jokes are mostly dialogue-based, and it also contains a lot of non-translatable puns and a lot of references you only get when you know a bit about British history.
@@torstenscholz6243 Yeah I suppose so. Mr Bean has a more universal appeal due to the simplicity and mime-like qualities
I love the Top Gear interview with him, where he describes a car with only one facial expression. I don't know any other actor who could do this so good. Maybe Jim Carry, but I think Carry would be on second place, because Atkinson has a bigger range of emotions. I think Carry couldn't do certain emotions.
Nice analysis. I have been using Mr bean videos to teach in my classes for years. He transcends age and cultural differences.
the making his lunch on the bench skit is my favorite. dude is hilarious
Thank you Mr Atkinson for giving me a memorable childhood, and teaching me comedy that i use today.
God Save Mr Bean
This was a masterful analysis of a masterful genius.
Mr. Bean was an important part of my childhood, I bonded with my dad through watching him And laughing together. I grew up into the Dominican Republic, Mr. Bean is like an universal leverage anyone can understand him dog
Now I know why my autistic son likes Mr Bean. All of Mr Bean's thoughts and emotions are each VISABLY conveyed to him without any chance of confusion.
And it's easily to feel like him, just not fitting in, but in a way that's funny and not soulcrushing.
I used to love the show until I saw the movies. Rowan Atkinson is a brilliant performer and Black Adder is his finest work.
Is Mr Bean perhaps the most iconic character in British TV?
among the most, not The Most
because well there's *Sherlock Holmes*
some might debate, it has to be the original one - he came from Books, well *Dr. Who?* maybe
Absotively!
It certenly is one of the most iconic ones. Keeping up appearances, absolutely famous and so many of the great iconic, wonderful unique British humor art comedies, famous around the globe! I grew up watching all of them in Croatia and so did others in other places.
British made used to be and still is a synonim for good quality comedy.
What does this place Doctor Who?
What about Wallace and gromit
I love Rowan! I would be interested to see your analysis of Black Adder too, since Edmund Blackadder is Mr Bean's near-exact opposite. Except for the first season maybe, he's kind of a doofus.
I just discovered your channel and the way you describe the work is just excellent, if I may say so. Awesome stuff!!
As a child I found Mr.Bean relatable, and sometimes wondered why people were laughing. Later in life I was diagnosed with autism. 😅
And that was not "Just an Observation", but the perfect observation of Rowan Atkinson's masterpiece, Mr.Bean!
He is a comedy genius. No matter how bad my day is I laugh hysterically watching him. I had no idea the show was only 15 episodes until I bought the series.
Much of the stuff he does was already done by other people previously. In most cases it's simply not as good as the vaudeville acts he based his stuff on.
Beautiful analysis! Epic comedy performance! Thanks for the video!
This show is amazing. It's something that everyone can enjoy. My 6 year old son loves it because all the comedy is easy to understand and conveyed in body language and physical comedy.
This is just such a good channel. Thank you for it.
Rowan Atkinson is my comedy hero, And yeah you nailing the point.
Good making me remember the Johnny English films 🤣might need to go re watch those
The best thing that Mr.bean did was it breaks boundaries. Everybody laugh at it what language, ethnicity and religion you are, if you are a human being, you will find it funny
Rowan Atkinson is a total renaissance man of comedy in my opinion & for proof you need look no further than his two most iconic characters. Mr Bean is him embodying Chaplin & proving he’s a master of physical comedy, but Blackadder is him embodying Groucho Marx and his timing, one liners & put downs on that show are just so phenomenal it’s almost impossible to think these 2 very different characters with such different comedy styles are both acted by the same person.
The only other comedy actor who could rival Rowan Atkinson for me is Ronnie Barker, I’d put them both on the same god tier list
This video made me realize Mr. Bean is just a Neurodivergent kid. I won't diagnose him with anything specific but he definitely shows symptoms. (Sense overload, impulsivity, trying to conform to unspoken social norms)
Favorite episode is where he meets the Queen. Ends up head butting her 😆
I found mr bean back in the early 90’s on pbs and was instantly hooked on Rowan Atkinson it’s just that a lot of his work isn’t readily available for American fan to easily see so we mainly have mr bean and the sequel series that animated along with some movie appearances
How many people were taken aback, when he spoke (on the interview). I don't think that I've ever heard his voice.
My brother was born Deaf and I wasn’t. Being kids of the 90’s, we were hard pressed to find captions before DVD kicked off and even then it was limited.
Something we both got the same amount of enjoyment from was Mr. Bean. You didn’t even need to hear to understand what was happening and why it was funny.
Try watching an episode of Mr. Bean muted and you’ll see that all the relevant information is still there on screen
Gosh dang these vidoes are too cool bro😂
Such an astute analysis!
I wish Rowan would do more. Different things. His brilliance should translate greatly.
Well, he did - he played Blackadder, Johnny English and inspector Fowler among others.
I think it was in early 90th he composed all his methods in a comedy lecture like videos. You can find them in small snippets here and there in CZcams.
his performance at the Olympics was divine
Mr. Bean character is funny without loud noises. Timeless humour. I hate comedians who think the funniest thing is to be as loud as possible.
No to mention that he also shows ho to be funny without swearing or making sex and poop jokes or making jokes based on stereotypes or sexism.
I remember hearing once that Mr. Bean is like a continuation of the comedy of Monsieur Hulot (of Jacques Tati). I think I can easily believe that.
omg I've just remembered that guy winking at Bean in the launderette was my first exposure to non-heteronormative sexuality as a kid.
Also that soldier at 10:38 was the corpo boss in Star Wars: Andor
Just gainer a new subscriber! I love your takes and analysis on these shows! Quick question could you do the downfall of the walking dead or game of thrones? I would love to hear your narration on these shows
The lack of dialogue always appealed to me. It's like watching an episode of Tom&Jerry. Just mindless fun with more mind than most other stuff. There is something particular to me about when a line of dialogue breaks the silence of the characters. It breaks immersion, yes, but in a more "whoa, that's new" way that makes the rest of it better. I've always loved silent films, it's quite depressing that they just aren't made anymore. At least not to my knowledge.
Im not westerner, and im 26 now.
When i was a kid i can relate to the jokes than other movies.
I dont know what he said but i understand it, that why he legendary.
Other contender is shaun the sheep for animation.
Rowan Atkinson is a disicple of old skool physical comedy, and was not like the other physical comedic actors of the 90's who felt bigger is better... there is a refinement to even his biggest reactions for Mr Bean... genius
A simple legend!!! Nice vid!...
A UK national treasure for sure!
The wild thing is, even though he's made a name for himself as a physical comedian, he is also one of a very few people who can be funny just by saying a single word. Anyone who has seen him in Blackadder and heard him say "Bob" will attest to this.
Bros outro is epic 😎
..'cause Blackadder = you gotta know a tiny* bit of history?
*biscuits size Baldrick's brain (II-III-IV)
its funny when you think about it, normally you would say "he was ahead of his time" but for Mr Bean, it feels like the opposite, he was born too late, after comedy had changed and became less visual.
2:16 it has to do with Atkinson's engineering background - he wouldn't let that Oxford degree go to waste
Good to mention another physical legend: Peter Sellers
Hey, Rowan Atkinson here. Thanks for this video!
Obviously.
@@nickevershedmusic8927 IM MR BEAN
If you like Mr. Bean or Rowan Atkinson's comedy in general, I HIGLY suggest you to watch one of his previous shows with plenty of other amazing actors: The Black Adder (Blackadder ). It's basically the story of Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) and his misfortunes during 4 periods of British history as the descendant of the Blackadded family dinasty. It has some dark humour, and some subjects that might be a bit too much for today's -weak- standards, but it's an excellent show nonetheless.
-- 4:45 Foreshadowing of his latest series: Man vs Bee.
The best part about all of this, is that you dont even need to know any languages to enjoy the show
Great video.
I love Mr. Bean so much and Rowan Atkinson in general! Rowan Atkinson's biggest influence for physical comedy is a actually the French comedian Jacques Tati.
1:42 I just realized that I heard Atkinson speak for the first time something that isn't some murmur that Mr. Bean sais.
I had to rewind the video pretty often, vecause I couldn't hear your commentary over my own laughter
"who might be an alien"
_flashbacks to the animated episode with the aliens_
Bean's a lean mean comedy machine.
Never thought it was particularly funny, but it was entertaining and I never had cable growing up so PBS is a channel I watched quite a bit.
I don't understand how anybody could enjoy this show that's over the age of 7.
Nobody has more than one. But everyone has one. We just don't always find it.
I find it amazing that’s Christian bale base his way of working and getting into character from Rowan aktinson
Mr Bean/Rowan Atkinson can be compared to Jackie Chan and his style of performances. Both use body movements to great effect.
Mr Bean is so damn amazing because he is everyone of us. He acts like a douchebag which sometimes we want to do, especially as children.. and when he gets caught or something bad happens, we feel for him.
he is the quiet versions we hide inside, only he does attack that neighbour with a car that he hates where, we may just want to haha
Dude, Rowan Atkinson should've been the one to play Jacque Clouseaux in the Pink Panther reboot IMHO.
he does a better James bond like Johnny English
I gotta ask what's the name of the song u played at the end to take us out of the clip? it's very uplifting