Rating: PG for mild suggestive humor
Starring: Jerry
Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock
Director: Simon J.
Smith
Distributor: DreamWorks Distribution LLC
Genre: Children’s Animated, Children’s
Comedy, New York City, Relationships
Recommended for: Dads and Kids
Age Groups: 6+
Release
Date: Nov 2, 2007
Run Time: 90 minutes
“Bee Movie” is a bizarre story of a talking bee
that has a friendship with a human. The animated film is a comedy that might change the way you
think about bees—you and your kids might fancy befriending one.
Barry B. Benson (Jerry
Seinfeld), a fresh graduate from the school of bees, does not want to keep to the beaten path by
following the one career choice, namely honey collection. He decides to venture outside of the hive.
In doing so, 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). His interaction with Vanessa brings him the shocking
revelation that humans have been stealing and eating the bees’ honey for centuries. Barry then
realizes that his true calling in life is to set the bee world right by suing the human race for
stealing their precious honey.
The film is about what people do to get ahead. Dads who are
caught in the rat race will probably enjoy identifying reflections of the characters they normally
encounter at the busy corporate workplace. The film depicts human behavior in the best and worst
form. It shows how greed, fear, the instinct of self-preservation can corrupt an individual. It
shows the cost of sticking to convention and the cost of standing out of the pack. Dads can use the
theme to help their kids discover the dangers of following the pack in picking up unhealthy habits
or attitudes.
If you are looking for an all out comedy, this is not it. It has its funny
moments though—Chris Rock, the mosquito heading for Alaska in search of moose blood is quite
entertaining in his cameo role. Dads might not enjoy most of the childish humor. However, kids might
find it funny.
Not everyone enjoys animated movies. However, dads and kids who enjoyed
movies like Toy Story and The Lion King will find this movie both entertaining as well as thought
provoking.