TV on DVD

Devious, quirky Mr. Bean gets silver anniversary issue

Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean, Remastered 25th Anniversary Collection
Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean, Remastered 25th Anniversary Collection

What is it? Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean, Remastered 25th Anniversary Collection, 14 episodes on four discs from Shout! Factory

How much? $24.97

When? Now

Who is Mr. Bean? A strange man. A very, very strange man. Episodes of the series begin with Mr. Bean dropping out of the sky into a pool of light, like a gift/curse from aliens.

He is ill-mannered and obnoxious, a combination of naive innocence and diabolical genius. He's creative, but also devious, immature, vindictive and narcissistic.

Mr. Bean doesn't speak much but when he does, it's mostly in grunts and guttural monosyllables.

He has a tendency to develop completely unprovoked vendettas against innocent people.

All that said, there are times when he's almost lovable -- and he can be nice and attempt to be helpful -- though the results aren't necessarily good ones. He does love his teddy bear.

So, really, he's like a toddler -- without the cuteness.

For the most part, he goes through daily life: mailing a letter, visiting the barber, going on vacation. Along the way, he is confronted with common problems and irritations, and he finds some very uncommon solutions.

Running late for a dental appointment? Get dressed while driving. Worried someone will steal your car? Always take the steering wheel with you. Long line in the emergency room? Start a fight between the people ahead of you. Out of stamps? Steal someone else's letter and take their stamp. Not that these solutions always work out well for him. They're certainly not the actions of a rational, normal person.

That probably makes him sound repugnant and, in a way, he is, but he's also very funny. The situations he finds himself in are usually somewhat exaggerated, but they're familiar and his unpredictable reactions are relatable and can serve as a sort of wish fulfillment.

That sounds strange. I'm not sure what to make of it. It is odd. But it's also funny -- if you're in the right frame of mind to appreciate Rowan Atkinson's peculiar brand of humor.

Atkinson is a genius at physical, visual comedy, with a highly expressive face and an ability to speak volumes with tiny gestures. The character he's playing is awful, but there is something satisfying about watching him get revenge on a bully in a coin-operated laundry.

Bean was a worldwide phenomenon in the 1990s, even inspiring a big-screen movie in 1997. The fact that Bean is largely mute meant that the series was easily "translated" for other countries and languages. Americans who didn't catch the show during airings on PBS might at least have seen Bean in the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics.

Extras? Yes, there are. The best feature is a 40-minute documentary tracing Atkinson's career and the creation of Bean through interviews with friends and colleagues and behind-the-scenes footage. "Best Bits of Mr. Bean" is a 70-minute clip show and there are a few missing and new scenes and a trailer for a Mr. Bean animated series (2002-'03).

New this week: Lovejoy, Season 5; Miss Marple, Volume 2; Silicon Valley, Season 1; Veep, Season 3.

Next week: Barney Miller, Season 7; The Brady Bunch, Complete Series; Frasier, Complete Series; King of the Hill, Seasons 9-10; MacGyver, Complete Collection; Matlock, Complete Series.

Style on 03/29/2015

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