Atkinson is a great physical comedian, no doubt. I haven't watched any Chaplin save for a few clips but I know he had a great reputation for physical comedy. I'm a big fan of the Stooges and Monty Python's Flying Circus but I'm still going to say that the surrounding context of Sparrow's entrance makes it more perfect. The movie was so genuine and sincere, as opposed to like the MCU and other comedies these days that rely so heavily on satire for comedy. The dinghy sinking wasn't a gag scenario Sparrow was dropped into, it was internally consistent and showed us who he was within the context of the movie. If the movie had been a self-aware comedy (like Python), it could have been a great scene but the juxtaposition of an absurd coincidence being dealt with in an internally consistent, serious manner, gave the scene it's salt.
Bean: The Movie was fantastic, by the way. Anyone who hasn't yet seen it needs to check it out if you can deal with dry physical comedy. Atkinson was awesome in the remake of Rat Race too, one of the most 90's movies you'll ever see.