Bee Movie (2007) DreamWorks Distribution LLC
1 hr. 30 mins.
Starring (the voices of): Jerry Seinfeld, Rene Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Chris Rock, John Goodman, Kathy Bates, Alan Arkin, Patrick Warburton
Directed by: Simon J. Smith
This movie is rated: PG

Rating: ** stars (out of 4 stars)

A spelling bee. A busy bee. A killer bee. But a Seinfeld bee? Sorry Jerry, your hapless honey-seeking hero doesn't create much of an animated buzz. Still, the non-judgmental kiddies will be stung by the wealthy comedian's colorfully amiable but simplistic one-note family fare Bee Movie. Seinfeld's cheeky collaboration with the profitable DreamWorks machine wouldn't arouse a beehive with spraying water from a garden hose. There are some key moments of charming elements if you can get past the piled-on puns and bland storyline. However, Bee Movie never rises to the occasion of being something highly spirited or exhibiting any spontaneous insight. The animation has its eye-popping display of bedazzlement but the movie's energy level feels oddly stillborn. There are traces of shrewd observations and witty sentiment but it's awkwardly distributed throughout the showcase. Also, Bee Movie doesn't exude the sophistication or imagination set forth by the previously released Brad Bird's rousing Ratatouille.

Seinfeld's drollness and nasal-sounding nuances thrilled prime time viewers back in the 90's with his Emmy-winning self-titled NBC sitcom. Unfortunately, it doesn't register properly here as he assumes the identity of "Bee"-movie star (sorry, couldn't resist) Barry B. Benson. Seinfeld has his name labeled all over this flaky fantasy as star, producer and co-writer so one can imagine if there was anything left for the flexing funnyman to do but take the tickets at the box office. Again, the tykes will want to be zapped by Barry B. Benson's safe but shallow sense of nuttiness as the visual look of the farce will have them drooling in their popcorn buckets. As for the adults, well...they can give an indirect nod to Seinfeld by hiding in their puffy shirts.

With jubilant joyboy Seinfeld on board and the assembled talent of notable voiced personalites (particularly the Oscar-winning trio of Rene Zellweger, Kathy Bates and Alan Arkin) involved, one would think that director Simon J. Smith could muster up more intrigue and infectious quirkiness. Clearly, Bee Movie is a flimsy novelty act and that's nothing that you can shake a stick at based on the film's sketchy gimmickry. No, Bee Movie isn't a total disaster--it does have its imaginative pulse at key moments and give credit to the cutesy premise although it isn't what you would call solidly hysterical. Still, with this much armor attached to this digital ditty we should expect an army tank of hearty jokes, not a tin can of half-hearted chuckles for indiscriminate tots.

Barry B. Benson has toiled in school and now that he has graduated from college he wants to explore more meaningful options that await him in the outside world. By merely going to work in the hive this simply doesn't make the grade for Barry. He needs the challenge of becoming stimulated professionally. Hence, Barry departs with his pals--the pollen jockies--as they do the instinctual ritual of pollination. Barry strays away from the other bees and ends up in New York City thus creating a fish-out-of-water scenario. Luckily, he meets up with and befriends a nice pretty florist named Vanessa Bloome (Rene Zellweger) whose quick-witted actions saves Barry's life.

Barry bonds with Vanessa convincingly when he seeks her assistance in helping promote a lawsuit against pushy humans for "stealing" honey from his fellow bees. According to Barry, exploitation against his brethren is at an all-time high and the honey companies are responsible for his species being "disabled" and providing the sweet treats to the insensitive demands of mankind. Can Barry and Vanessa shine a light on the mistreatment of insects everywhere? Will Barry B. Benson expose himself to the very same dangerous cause he's championing?

Scattering in its disjointed execution, Bee Movie floats as aimlessly as a bug without wings. Sure, the movie contains its generous share of pop-culture platitudes, slaphappy references, giddy-minded gags and a social consciousness thrown in for good measure. Plus, the cameo appearances are catchy and give an immediate uplift to the sugar-coated storytelling. Big-name participants such as Oprah Winfrey's judge, John Goodman's attorney, Larry King's bespectacled bug-eyed interviewer and "human" hotshots Sting and Ray Liotta all contribute to the off-kilter proceedings. Seinfeld stalwarts Patrick "Puddy" Warburton and the now infamously invective-spewing Michael "Kramer" Richards make their presence known as well. With that said, Bee Movie manages to weave in and out of pithy and perilous themes without giving much impact to the choppy forethought.

Seinfeld and his fellow scribers Spike Feresten, Andy Robin and Barry Marder bump into wavering ideas much like a blind drone and never really establish a consistent rhythm for this kiddie caper about conviction and corruption. Even when this nimble narrative wants to test its edginess a bit despite the youngsters' viewership, the movie feels inappropriately compromised especially when catering to a prolonged, hohum courtroom subplot and mentioning the vulnerablity of a bee's existence. Bee Movie never has a steady and simulating tone much like its predecessor bug-inspired animated farces as A Bug's Life and Antz. One cannot tell if Seinfeld and crew wanted their zippy vehicle to mainly focus on being a lightweight mockery for the moptops, a sugary satire for cynical grown-ups or a vanity piece for Jerry's restless creativity. Whatever the case, Bee Movie tries to please all--the loose slapstick wants to entice children, friends and lovers and playful oldsters. Feebly, this juggling act looses its concentration in a sea of uninspired fluffy goofiness.

Yeah, Seinfeld made a comfortable living at spearheading a clever and crafty sitcom that devoted its spine to "being about nothing" many years ago. Unintentionally, we have to say the same thing about his fun-loving yet "bee"-labored big screen tyke tale.

Frank Ochieng
@ World Voice News (2007)