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It's
a somewhat odd choice for Mr. Seinfeld to opt for the
comically-unfriendly areana of CGI animated kids films, but there is
something about Bee Movie that just seems to work.
The
lastest in a ridiculously long line of CGI-Animated kids flicks (there
is seriously one a week out in cinemas or on DVD these days) follows
college graduate... and bee, by the name of Barry B. Benson (Jerry
Seinfeld playing Jerry Seinfeld) finds himself disillusioned with the
prospect of having only one career choice – honey.
As he ventures
outside of the hive for the first time, he breaks one of the cardinal
rules of the bee world and talks to a human, a New York City florist
named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger). He is soon shocked to discover that the
humans have been stealing and eating the bees’ honey for centuries, and
ultimately realises that his true calling in life is to set the world
right by suing the human race for stealing their precious honey.
The real success of Bee Movie
comes from the fact that this has Jerry Seinfeld's fingerprints all
over it. From some absolutley superb non-verbal sight gags (Barry's
erratic first foray into civilization is a perfect example), to some
clever wordplay, to Seinfeld's patented 'Observations of Life' in Bee
form, to the glorious looking art work. It's a success from almost
every conceivable angle.
The cast work amazingly well together, although Matthew Broderick seems somewhat underused (and simply channelling The Producers'
Leo Bloom) while Barry's parents bear a remarkable resembelance to
George Costanzas'. The only real blip on the radar seems to be
Zellweger (but that might be due to my pre-ordained feelings toward the
squinty eyes actress), with Chris Rock and Patrick Whalburton rounding
out the cast with some stand-out (and almost upstaging) cameos.
Trumps A Bugs Life and Antz (which were both produced almost a decade ago) thanks largely to Seinfeld's charm and charisma.
Believe the Buzz - this one won't Bee Beaten.
(Give me a break - How could I not inlclude a couple of bad bee puns!)
EXTRAS
Not
sure whether there is a 2-Disc Edition availible or there is one on the
way, but from where I'm sitting it's a pretty sweet package on offer
here.
Sure, there are a few forgettable extras (most notably the
"We Got The Bee" Music Video), however, the surprisingly fun behind the
scenes featurettes more than make up for any real flat spots.
There's also a few games on there for the kids, which I'm more than happy to admit kept me busy for more than a few hours.
Let's hope this is the first of many more successful cinematic attempts by Seinfeld.
Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 70%
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