Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeWhat's the deal with Bee Movie?
November 12, 2007 —
Bee Movie goes to show that a stacked cast of voice actors and cute animation doesn't always makes for the next Shrek. Despite the presence of comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld, there isn't even much in the way of general entertainment, much less humor.
Seinfeld stars as the voice of Barry B. Benson, a young bee who has just completed his mandatory 9 total days of schooling (Get it? Bees only live for a period of days) and is ready to go on into the workforce. However, his friend Adam (Matthew Broderick) is much more enthusiastic about a life of servitude than he is.
Out of rebellion against the slave like bee life he is about to be subjected to, Barry goes with the strong, soldier-like bees that collect pollen out in the world. There, after a series of complicating events, he ends up being saved by florist Vanessa Bloome (Renee Zellweger) from her angry husband.
The movie gets really crazy when Barry begins talking to Vanessa. Yes, in this movie, bees can talk to humans, and apparently Barry is the first to do so. Incredibly, it seems as though Barry and Vanessa are on the verge of romance, something which will no doubt be the subject of a great deal of bad Internet fan fiction.
After these adventures, Barry can't resist continuing to go out into the world, jobless, to the disappointment of his parents. Eventually he discovers to his dismay that bees are used to make honey for humans to sell. At this point Barry informs the bee population and actually sues humanity, culminating in a courtroom case of bees vs. humans.
It seems like pretty much everything with this movie is a little off. One of the first things I noticed was how Jerry Seinfeld's voice didn't sound right at all for his animated avatar. Barry looks like a young, innocent and unassuming bee, and Seinfeld's witty New York tone is all off for the character. It's like voicing Wolverine with Adam Sandler.
This is a thread that weaves its way through the entire film. Vanessa's husband, who sounds like a berserk Chris Farley, is more distracting and annoying than funny, and even Chris Rock's guest appearance as a mosquito is disappointing.
I used to think films of this type, which hold humor for both adults and children, were mostly a barren form of filmmaking. My faith in this idea was shaken by such movies as The Incredibles, but I'm glad that films like Bee Movie continue to be made, if only to allow me to reaffirm myself.
There's a certain element of exploitation that seems to be present here. After the success of the other animated features mentioned, among others, it seems that studios are desperate to churn out computer animated movies on every subject. Already made a movie about ants? Let's break it down another step and make one about bees. Be on the lookout for Spider Movie, Dragonfly Movie, Silkworm Movie, and Asian Lady Beetle Movie, all due out this summer.