The Harry Hill Movie
Dir: Steve Bendelack
2013
***
I've been a fan of Harry Hill's since he was doing stand up comedy in the mid-90s. His mix of surreal and silly really appeals to me and has always made me (and many more) laugh like a Hyena. So a film was always going to appeal, and the good news is that it doesn't disappoint, it's just that Harry's usual 30 minute TV format was just about enough surreal silliness that most could take, a full 80 minutes is a little bit too much to handle. It goes from 100ft tall Nuclear Hamster shooting lazers from it's eyes to a romantic encounter set in a cave dwelling community of shell people in just 10 minutes. Maybe less would have been more but then maybe I would have then complained that there wasn't more, I don't know, all I know is that it was quite hard to keep up with. The supporting cast is great and I really can't think of anything I didn't like apart from the fact it was like being slapped round the face with a Giraffe (on fire).

Mr. Bean's Holiday
Dir: Steve Bendelack
2007
**
Seventeen years after the television series first aired and ten years after the first film comes Mr. Bean's Holiday. A bizarre decision seeing as the character had been pretty much forgotten and deemed unfashionable (not to mention no longer very funny and nothing but a cheap money making scam thanks to the memorabilia that never seems to sell in most greetings card shops). Even more surprising is that it's not that bad. The direction at times is nothing short of beautiful. Bean doesn't talk too much and the comedy is focused more on the physical, like it always was. The story is a bit shoddy but there are some great stand alone scenes that make up for this. I still don't love it but it's a masterpiece compared to the first film.