Man Vs Bee
Introduction
Rowan Atkinson. A name synonymous with our childhood for us 90s kids. The man who immortalized the character of Mr. Bean who was such a stress relief back in the day. The man had a knack of extracting slap stick laughter even without uttering a single word. So when there was an announcement that Rowan Atkinson would be returning with his brand new show Man Vs Bee, naturally I was excited. I expected the show to be nothing short of a hilarious fun-ride. And with that I finished watching the new Netflix show Man Vs Bee starring Rowan Atkinson. Is it worth your time, stay tuned.
Story & Screenplay
Man Vs Bee follows the story of a man who is pit against a bee in a lonely household. What follows is mayhem! The story is simplistic but I wasn’t in for the story anyway. I wanted to have a good laugh after reviewing some intense pieces of work. And the screenplay ensures just that! Here I would like to point out that it would be rather unfair to compare the show to Mr. Bean. Instead, it would be great if it is treated as a separate show which will help you enjoy even more!
The screenplay standing at 9 episodes of just around 10 odd minutes is definitely binge watch worthy. What that does is that it doesn’t drag at any places and the laugh riot is concise and to the point. The screenplay opens on a slightly sedate note which slowly kicks in once the flashback begins. From this point onwards the mayhem begins and so does the laugh riot. Each incident is divided into episodes which makes for a leisurely viewing. The proceedings are funny and goofy and typically reminiscent of Rowan Atkinson the actor. The innovativeness is amplified across various sequences which are hilarious to the core.
A couple of drawbacks which I felt in the screenplay are the character depth firstly. Now, I wouldn’t have associated or even considered this point had it not been for the writing which time and again did throw in aspects regarding his family which kind of felt half baked. Secondly, the length of each episode is traded with the brisk and rushed final act. I did feel that the entire last act with regard to the turn of events was extremely rushed almost as if the writers wanted to get on with it. But nevertheless, the screenplay is a laugh riot which will make you chuckle and also put a smile on your face.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are used as a bare minimum which was a great thing with all the action doing the rounds. The BGM is splendid and blends well with the drama. The VFX especially of the Bee is exceptional. Director David Kerr was well aware of the pulse of the audience and he definitely plays to the strength of his protagonist. And so the tone of the drama stays consistent throughout leading to endless moments of laughter and joy.
Performances
While all the performers are good, the series relies on the able shoulders of Rowan Atkinson who as Trevor just knows how to make you laugh. Right from his goofy nature to impulsive decisions, he single handedly ensures you have a good time throughout the series. You can see shades of Mr. Bean in his character here but he does just enough to make this character subtly different.
Conclusion
Man Vs Bee is a laugh riot and reminiscent of our beloved character Mr. Bean. Available on Netflix.