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Bee Movie

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Bee Movie (2007)

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Reviews Counted:162

Fresh:83

Rotten:79

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Bee Movie has humorous moments, but its awkward premise and tame delivery render it mostly forgettable.

Rated: U [See Full Rating] for mild suggestive humor, and a brief depiction of smoking.

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:14-12-2007

Synopsis: Touted as Jerry Seinfeld's first major project since the 1998 end of his long-running eponymous TV series, 2007's computer-animated BEE MOVIE stars the popular comedian as the voice of Barry B.... Touted as Jerry Seinfeld's first major project since the 1998 end of his long-running eponymous TV series, 2007's computer-animated BEE MOVIE stars the popular comedian as the voice of Barry B. Benson, a young bee eager to explore the world outside of his hive. As he discovers how people live in New York City, he befriends a human florist, Vanessa Bloome (Renee Zellweger), and becomes outraged at the selling of honey, leading to a lawsuit and, of course, plenty of Seinfeldian misadventures. Helmed by directors Steve Hickner (THE PRINCE OF EGYPT) and Simon J. Smith (a member of the SHREK creative team), BEE MOVIE lightens Seinfeld's notoriously stinging humor for a family audience, while staying true to its inherent New York-bred quirkiness. This leaves room for the film to feature impressive (if anatomically incorrect) bug-oriented CGI animation and a solid supporting cast that includes Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, and Ray Liotta (who plays a honey-peddling animated version of himself). Although it inhabits some of the same insect-populated territory as A BUG's LIFE and ANTZ, BEE MOVIE also nods to THE GRADUATE (admittedly a Seinfeld favorite) in its restless protagonist, resulting in a playful and thoroughly entertaining film that even manages to work an environmental message into its colorful palette. [More]

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Alan Arkin, Kathy Bates, Larry King, Barry Levinson, Rip Torn, Colin Quinn, Oprah Winfrey, Ray Liotta

Director: Steve Hickner, Simon J. Smith

Director: Steve Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Screenwriter: Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, Andy Robin
Producer: Christina Steinberg, Jerry Seinfeld
Composer: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Bee Movie

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Bee sure to see this.

Full Review Source: Heart 106.2 | comment 1 Comment
01/22/08
Simon Thompson
Simon Thompson
Heart 106.2

Given the amount of talent involved – Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Rip Torn, and Seinfeld himself – it all feels like a terrible waste.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
12/14/07
Robert Hanks
Robert Hanks
Independent

Amusing and likeable, but scarcely memorable.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
12/14/07
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The best we can award is bee minus.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
12/14/07
Nigel Andrews
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times

What a treat to see a comedy that starts funny, is funny in the middle, and ends funny - unlike the usual Hollywood model in which all the humour is used up in the first act setting up the premise, and then winds down into sentimentality.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
12/14/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sadly the animation fails to bee-dazzle – often looking a bit flat. Overall, it has to be a Bee-plus.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
12/14/07
Sun Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This DreamWorks film is not the sliced-bread marvel it has spent an enormous amount of money pretending to be. But it must be said that Seinfeld’s script is a thing of wonder.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
12/14/07
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The animation is fine, the plot accessible enough for youngsters and it clocks in at a snappy hour and a half.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
12/14/07
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Bright, sunny and almost instantly forgettable, even Jerry Seinfeld can't stop Bee Movie from boldly going where far too many CGI animations have gone before.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
12/14/07
Saxon Bullock
Saxon Bullock
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Whatever happened to no hugs, no learning? It’s enough to bring you out in hives.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
12/13/07
Total Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Passes the time, but undoutedly one for the little ’uns.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/13/07
David Jenkins
David Jenkins
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Bee Movie has its moments but all in all there is very little sting in its tale.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
12/13/07
Rebecca Garson
Rebecca Garson
Sky Movies

The depth of talent in the cast and gag writing shines through, but it’s only just enough to take your mind off of the flat animation.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/13/07
Sam Toy
Sam Toy
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Amusing comedy with likeable characters, colourful animation and several great gags, though the script isn't as focussed as it should have been.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/13/07
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

What Bee Movie really lacks is a compelling hero. Seinfeld is essentially playing himself, so what we get is a stand-up comedian in a black and yellow sweater.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/11/07
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Enjoyable fun even if it's not particularly original.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
11/22/07
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
11/17/07
Screen International
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The hyperactive comic randomness is deadening

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
08/27/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

A consistently amusing bit of animated whimsy from funnyman Jerry Seinfeld that has the observational comic's fingerprints all over it.

Full Review Source: Times-Picayune | comment Comment
08/14/09
Mike Scott
Mike Scott
Times-Picayune
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Peter Keough
Peter Keough
Boston Phoenix
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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