Bee Movie Review
by Clint Morris
Read our Interview with Bee Movie producer Jeffrey Katzenberg: Click Here
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There’s been a lot
of buzz surrounding Jerry Seinfeld’s new film over the past couple of
years - being a CGI project, it’s taken that long to make it – and
though the wait may have stung a few, the result definitely won’t.
By
now, we’d all be aware that Jerry Seinfeld (whether it’s as a stand-up
comedian or as the brainchild of one of TV land’s best sitcoms of all
time) never enters anything half-prepped, and the work that he’s put
into his first movie shows right up there on the screen – it’s a
beautiful, dazzling family pic that doesn’t skip a beat.
In short, this is no (excuse the pun) B-movie.
Written by and featuring Seinfeld as a very personable bee, Bee Movie
is uncompromising fun and well-crafted filmmaking, and unlike a lot of
the mediocre animated/family films in recent months (yes, I’m referring
to you Shrek the Third!), it’s a satisfying experience for any age.
Toy Story and Shrek
were such successes because they made sure to include a little bit of
everything in the pot, and as a consequence, kids, their parents and
their grandparents (alive or deceased – Woody and Buzz reanimated many
a corpse with their hijinks) were able to head along to the films as a
family. And most importantly - all walk away with smiles streaming from
their mouths. Bee Movie
works the same way - it is a film that no doubt had just as many joke
writers on staff as the producers have dollar signs in their eyes,
because there’s a gag or three in here for each target market.
This hive is full of the ‘over the head’ gags we found in movies like Shrek
(from the digs at Ray Liotta, the ‘bee’ version of Larry King and the
stabs at corporate America) but it’s also got just as many undamaging
character-bumps-into-something funnies for the kids.
Sure, there are a couple of moments in the film that work about as well as The Karate Kid
without his kick, and don’t quite work (A couple of the characters
could’ve been explored more too), but for the most part, the thing
moves at a nice pace, and makes sure your frown’s upside down for its
whole duration. More importantly, it’s a bravura and daring debut for
Seinfeld – who gives us one of the most likeable toon leads since the
Scottish Ogre…. The thing even looks like him.
Our hero is
recent college graduate, Barry the bee, a buzzer who wants more out of
life than slaving away day-in day-out at the honey factory. When the
opportunity presents itself to Barry to venture out into the world, he
jumps at it. In New York City, he finds sweets, TiVo, flowers and most
predominantly, the friendship of a human (Renee Zellweger).
Through
his new friend, Barry discovers that anyone can buy honey right off the
grocery store shelf (Ray Liotta’s brand is a top seller), he is shocked
that people are stealing the bees’ unique creation and making money
from it. Outraged, he decides to avenge this injustice by suing the
human race.
Definitely better than Shrek, Bee Movie is as sweet as honey. 3.5 out
of 5 Bee Movie
Australian release: 6th December, 2007
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman
Director: Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith
Website: Click
here.
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