Bee Movie (**3/4)

Jerry Seinfeld’s entry into the world of animated animals splits the difference between his adult comedy and typical kid fare. The storyline has him voicing the main character, Barry, who has just finished school, which has lasted several days, and is now ready to choose the job he’ll be stuck with the rest of his life. Like Z in Antz, he rebels against expectations and tries to fly with the big bees who leave the hive to spread pollen. Like Remy in Ratatoille, he ignores admonitions to stay clear of humans. Evidently, bees speak English but have prudently chosen not to speak to us. But Barry speaks to one (Renée Zellweger). There is the hint that he is in love with her, but only the hint. Where can that go? Why is it okay for animals to be attracted to humans but somehow the reverse seems much creepier?

So that’s all pretty typical. The original part of the story is what happens when Barry realizes that the humans have been stealing honey for themselves. Like Seinfeld, the story takes place in New York, so city bee Barry’s solution involves lawyers. This provides an opportunity for some humor that may go over the kids’ heads, and some stretches of the film may leave them, shall we say, antsy. (Seeing “Ray Liotta Private Select” honey on the supermarket shelf amused me but will probably bewilder kids born after Goodfellas came out.) Seinfeld shares writing credit with three others, and some of the humor sounds like him, and some sounds more like other animated movies. There are enough funny lines to humor both audiences, but my guess is that people will be watching Seinfeld reruns long after they forget about this Bee Movie.

IMDB link


reviewed 11/10/07