Steve Bendelack Movies

Mr. Bean -- the stick-legged goofball man-child created by Rowan Atkinson on television in the early '90s, and in the 1997 feature Bean -- undertakes his second cinematic adventure in the comic romp Mr. Bean's Holiday. Growing thoroughly sick of the wet, cold, and clammy London weather, Mr. Bean (Atkinson) finds just the right tonic when he wins a trip to sunny southern France, all expenses paid, with a new digital video camera to accompany him. However, he runs headfirst into a series of outrageous and unpleasant situations, such as winding up in a French restaurant where a maître d' (Jean Rochefort) convinces him to eat bizarre varieties of seafood that he's never before encountered, and discovering that the "Very Fast Train" certainly lives up to its name. Eventually, Mr. Bean (accompanied by a Russian traveling companion whom he meets along his journey) stumbles onto the French Riviera and spoils the latest movie production of snobbish, egomaniacal filmmaker Carson Clay (Willem Dafoe) -- little realizing that his own klutzy video footage will accidentally end up in Clay's film and be screened at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. Unlike the first big-screen incarnation of Atkinson's character, Mr. Bean's Holiday adheres more closely to the formula of the original series by rendering the character almost completely mute. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

This French & Saunders special from May 1999 features an extended parody of the BBC TV drama Silent Witness. Here the program becomes "Witless Silence," and Jennifer Saunders steps into the forensic-pathologist part played by Amanda Burton in the actual series. In another segment, "Acting Masterclass," another BBC actress actually guest stars. Helen Mirren, known to legions of British TV viewers as London police detective Jane Tennison, here plays an actress very much like herself who's come home to teach an actor's workshop with a pair of far less successful fellow drama school alumnae: Maggie Moffit (Dawn French), who's done more work for Actor's Equity than actual acting, and Tillie Dickerson (Saunders), a housewife who once guest-starred on Doctor Who. Three additional sketches feature parodies of musical performers: teen pop group Boyzone, Welsh rock band Catatonia, and Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette. The entire special is framed by "F&S TV," a mock shopping-channel program hosted by the titular comediennes. French & Saunders: F&S TV is included as a bonus on the DVD edition of French & Saunders: Gentlemen Prefer. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

After the advent of Absolutely Fabulous and The Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders stopped producing regular seasons of their eponymous show in favor of a series of holiday specials. This edition, from Christmas 1999, is based around an extended parody of Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace in which Jedi Knights French and Saunders are forced to fight Darth Maul with licensed toy merchandise instead of real lightsabres. Individual Star Wars sequences alternate with additional parodies, including a send-up of Spice Girl Mel C's "Northern Star" video. Ally McBeal's sylph-like physique, Madonna's British affectations, Diana Ross's airport customs problems, and The Matrix's special effects also provide punch lines. Other performers include frequent guest star Janette Krankie, one-half of the comedy duo the Krankies. Dominic Brigstocker directed, although Steve Bendelack stepped in to helm "Public Schoolgirls," a segment about Christmas holidays at a snooty boarding school. Although it has received no video release of its own, French & Saunders: The Phantom Millennium is included as a bonus on the DVD edition of French & Saunders: At the Movies. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Things just keep getting stranger in the village of Royston Vasey in this episode of the British comedy series The League Of Gentlemen, written by Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, and Reece Shearsmith, who also play nearly all the roles themselves. An unfortunate man from the roads commission has to break the bad news to Tubbs and Edward that their shop will have to be moved to make room for a new highway, only to discover Tubbs isn't aware that there's a world outside Royston Vasey. Veterinarian Mr. Chinnery tries an unorthodox treatment on a sick tortoise, with disastrous results. Benjamin's breakfast is spoiled when Uncle Harvey and Auntie Val decide to share with him their quaint habit of drinking their own urine. Pauline has a tough day at the employment center when she tries to show how to behave at a job interview. Mike announces he and his girlfriend Cheryl, leading to a battle royale between his friends Geoff and Brian over who gets to be best man. And Bernice Woodall, the village's female vicar, wonders to herself what sort of undesirables would be attracted to Royston Vasey should a protest be organized against the new highway. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The first season of the British comedy series The League Of Gentlemen, in which Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, and Reece Shearsmith both wrote and portrayed the bizarre characters who populate the village of Royston Vasey, concluded with this episode. Edward and Tubbs make the startling discovery that the construction company attempting to put a new road right through their shop is run by their long lost son, David. Benjamin is forced by his Uncle Harvey and Auntie Val to clean the bathroom, which turns out to be no simple procedure in the Denton home. Pauline loses her position at the Job Centre when it's revealed that one of her students in the Job Training course is actually a government inspector. Veterinarian Mr. Chinnery is on hand to help a cow deliver a calf, with disastrous results. Bernice the Vicar shares her views on handicapped parking, and Geoff has a bit of a surprise for his friends as they plan a birthday party for him. And finally, Tubbs has decided to do the unthinkable -- she's leaving Royston Vasey and is moving to London with David, though getting out of town isn't as easy as one might imagine ... just ask Benjamin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi