2007, DreamWorks Animation
Animation
Rating: PG
Approx. 91 mins.
THE STORY:
Barry the bee (Jerry Seinfeld) has just graduated and is primed to enter the workforce, meaning that he has to choose the job he will do until he drops dead. While others, like his best friend Adam (Matthew Broderick), relish the opportunity to play a part in the honey-making business, Barry feels trapped and limited by his options. He longs to be a Pollen Jock and able to fly out of the hive to see the wide world.
As luck would have it, Barry gets exactly that chance, but manages to break a cardinal bee rule while on the outside that has lasting, far-reaching consequences: he talks to a human. He befriends Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), a florist who educates him humans' appropriation of honey and enslavement of bees for its production. Barry is incensed and launches a law suit for the return of honey to the bees.
When Barry wins, his well-intentioned act has dire consequences for the bees, humans and natural world: the bees are lost without jobs to perform, humans miss their honey, and all the flowers in the world begin to die without the bees' pollination. With Vanessa's help, Barry sets out to restore things to rights.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
As luck would have it, Barry gets exactly that chance, but manages to break a cardinal bee rule while on the outside that has lasting, far-reaching consequences: he talks to a human. He befriends Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), a florist who educates him humans' appropriation of honey and enslavement of bees for its production. Barry is incensed and launches a law suit for the return of honey to the bees.
When Barry wins, his well-intentioned act has dire consequences for the bees, humans and natural world: the bees are lost without jobs to perform, humans miss their honey, and all the flowers in the world begin to die without the bees' pollination. With Vanessa's help, Barry sets out to restore things to rights.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- Oh my God.
VIOLENCE:
- Barry fights for his life as the anti-hero tries to kill him-- quite comedic and not frightening
TEACHING POINTS:
- lessons about the life cycle of bees and their role in the natural environment
- how to face up to mistakes and take responsibility
THE UPSHOT:
I read some online reviews of Bee Movie which were amazingly critical, mainly due to the facts that a) it is an unoriginal theme, and b) it is completely unbelievable. I can see the argument for both of these points, but am left thinking, So what?
Yes, a hero searching for meaning in life and resisting being boxed into a life-role that seems unsuitable has been done before. But isn't that because the existential quest for meaning is a primal human predicament?
Yes, it is a completely unrealistic story. It is an animated kids' movie. It is a completely fantastical story that makes no pretensions about being high art or artfully allegorical or the like.
If you liked Seinfeld, there is no reason why you would not like this movie. It is wittily funny, well-paced, attractive to watch, has a unique treatment of a common theme, and is just a fun experience. The 5 year-old and the grown-ups in the room all had a good time, with different aspects appealing to each group.
Yes, a hero searching for meaning in life and resisting being boxed into a life-role that seems unsuitable has been done before. But isn't that because the existential quest for meaning is a primal human predicament?
Yes, it is a completely unrealistic story. It is an animated kids' movie. It is a completely fantastical story that makes no pretensions about being high art or artfully allegorical or the like.
If you liked Seinfeld, there is no reason why you would not like this movie. It is wittily funny, well-paced, attractive to watch, has a unique treatment of a common theme, and is just a fun experience. The 5 year-old and the grown-ups in the room all had a good time, with different aspects appealing to each group.
4.5/5
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