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Bee Movie

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Bee Movie (2007)

52%
42%
59%
N/A
N/A
N/A
52 %
Reviews Counted: 153 Fresh: 80  Rotten:73 Average Rating: 5.8/10
 
Consensus: Bee Movie has humorous moments, but its awkward premise and tame delivery render it mostly forgettable.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Rated: U

Runtime: 90 mins

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. Benson, a young bee eager to explore the world outside of his hive. As he discovers how people live... 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]

Genre: Animated, Animation, Childrens, Comedy, Nature, New York City, Relationships

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

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

DVD Info

Release:

May 8, 2008

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English, French
  • Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround - English, Spanish
  • Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional

Additional Product:

  • Pin Promo

Additional Release Material:

  • Featurette - 1. INSIDE THE HIVE: THE CAST OF BEE MOVIE
  • 2. TECH OF BEE MOVIE
  • 3. MEET BARRY B BENSON
  • Music Video - 1. We Got The Bee

Interactive Features:

  • Dreamworks Animation Jukebox

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
Ratings Image
8/10

Bee sure to see this.

Full Review | comment 1 Comment
01/22/08
Simon Thompson
Heart 106.2
Ratings Image
2/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
Robert Hanks
Independent
Ratings Image
N/A

Amusing and likeable, but scarcely memorable.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

The best we can award is bee minus.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
Ratings Image
3/5

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 | comment Comment
12/14/07
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
Sun Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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 | comment Comment
12/14/07
James Christopher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]
Ratings Image
2.5/5

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 | comment Comment
12/14/07
Saxon Bullock
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/13/07
Total Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/6

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/13/07
David Jenkins
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/13/07
Rebecca Garson
Sky Movies
Ratings Image
3/5

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 | comment Comment
12/13/07
Sam Toy
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

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 | comment Comment
12/13/07
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
2/5

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 | comment Comment
12/11/07
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

Enjoyable fun even if it's not particularly original.

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

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
11/17/07
Screen International
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

... may not be "about nothing," but it is not about much more than the puny pun in the title.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/05/08
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter
Ratings Image
3/4

A kids movie with a moral, that's rare!...

Full Review | comment Comment
06/08/08
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Ratings Image
5/10

...tries mightily to be cute and cuddly, and in this regard it succeeds...at least for kids.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/27/08
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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