Bee Movie (2007) User Reviews

Lighthearted Humor - Fun Movie

[andrew-153 · 7/10 · 4 November 2007]

This is a silly movie. It's goal is to make you laugh, and little beyond that. Indeed I laughed for most of the movie. It is hard for me to find much fault when I am laughing that much. That the last act had fewer jokes was a minor misstep. The characters were cute and the story didn't get in the way of the humor. And I kind of enjoyed the story, it was a little odd and funny.

It is unusual among animated movies in that its focus is jokes, kind of like a stand-up act. There are a lot of these jokes and they are quite funny! Does anything feel better than laughing? (OK, well very few things.) The story is mainly there as a vehicle for the jokes. So perhaps slightly different expectations will serve you well with this movie.

Don't go to this for a serious story! It is light humor, and at that game a great success. If you recognize that that is what the filmmakers are going for, then you will enjoy it. If you are expecting an incredible story or thrilling action or amazing animated beauty, then you might be disappointed.

As lighthearted humor with playful animation, and a great ending song, the film is a success.

[ Insert "bee" pun here ]

[Derek237 · 6/10 · 1 December 2007]

Bee Movie has its moments of brilliance, but they are few and far between, and I think what weakens this movie the most is the fact that most other movies have already beaten it to its punches. There's nothing too original here. Most notably, it bears many similarities to the 1998 animated film, Antz, starring Woody Allen as the insect living in a perfectly functioning society who begins to question his importance in the greater scheme of things. And much like DreamWorks' previous animated film, Sharktale, featured many fish-themed puns, Bee Movie tries the same thing, except with bee puns, and you'll learn fairly quickly that there's not a lot to work with in that area. And, let's face it: Larry King has appeared as himself in so many movies that the gimmick itself has become an irritating cliché. Here he is, in complete bee form. I think they've taken him as far as he can go.

Altogether, though, Bee Movie is not without its charms. It does eventually find itself in some odd, uncharted territories (could a bee really fall in love with a human?), there are plenty of funny moments, and yes, even some of those puns work. Jerry Seinfeld, who has taken a lot of pride in writing, producing, acting in, and promoting the movie, does do a very good job voicing the main character. You sometimes feel like these actors doing voices for cartoons are just phoning it in, but Seinfeld gives a surprisingly energetic performance. I could picture him mimicking Barry B. Benson's movements in a recording booth as I heard his voice; it's obvious he was passionate about every aspect to the movie. The rest of the cast does a good job, too: Renee Zellwegger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, as well as John Goodman in a brief role, who once again proves what an amazingly talented voice actor he is. Whenever there's a need for a big, burly character, John Goodman is the go-to guy, because, well, he IS a big, burly character. Ray Liotta's cameo was also a highlight, and much more inspired than King's cameo.

It may not be a perfect movie, or the most original, and for a 90-minute run-time, it kind of drags on a bit, but for all that it is, I can't say that it wasn't entertaining. It won't go down in the history of greatest animated films, but it may be a decent way to spend a rainy day, when you can't go out and fly.

My rating: 6/10

P.S.

If you're knowledgeable about your animated films, you may remember the slight controversy surrounding Finding Nemo, which inspired a few children to flush their fishes down the toilet so they could "free" them into the ocean. Bee Movie just may plant some worse ideas in kids' heads. Keep an eye out for news stories about children getting stung by bees after trying to make friends with them once they see the movie. Maybe Larry King could do a special about it.

Surprisingly good

[tlyqmyl · 7/10 · 17 July 2021]

I hated this movie as a kid. I thought the story was lame & the jokes aren't funny. But now I think it's pretty good. Not the best DreamWorks movie. But I like it for what it is.

Plot: 6/10 Animation: 7/10 Jokes: 8/10 Characters: 7/10 Overall: 7/10.

Humorous

[Seabass90447 · 7/10 · 6 December 2007]

It was a light hearted-animated-comedy-for the whole family. It taught good values, like take pride in what you do as a person. But it was geared in my opinion toward little kids. I took my 3 cousins (3 years to 8 Years) and they loved it but they wanted to get bees as pets.... try to explaining why a 3 year old can't have a bee as a pet. When i saw the parts in the court room the way the bees moved in sync it was amazing. It has nothing on the original computer generated movie "Shrek". It set all kinds of ground work for newer movies like The Bee Movie. The CG of the bees flying was a pretty cool look how they all flew in droves just like it was an actual bees taking flight. I think that there should be more family friendly films like this one. But, all in all it was a good Flick.

Do you like jazz?

[jaredcew · 7/10 · 24 December 2016]

Wow, what is there to say? I'm completely blown away by what is essentially a masterpiece. A movie that was heavily watched over by the vultures that are the critics. Waiting to have something bad to say; something that would hinder this film's integrity. Despite of that, despite of the pressures ensued while making this delicacy, the directors Steve Hickner & Simon Smith, they nailed it.

A film that tugs at your heart strings and brings a tear to the manliest man's eye. An artistic piece that reminds you of who you are and what you stand for. What it is, is essentially a nostalgia act, reminding us all of when we were at our very most happy state of mind.

I can't lie, I was a little upset at the lack of Oscar nominations and awards generally. John Goodman's voice acting is sensational and all out gripping. I was almost routing for the guy! (He's the bad guy). Surely he should have had at very least an Oscar nomination? Not to mention that Barry B. Benson was coming out with the most inspirational quotes since Martin Luther King. Where's the awards for that?!

You know to sum it all up, there's been a lot of good animated films in this generation. There's 'Finding Nemo', 'Chicken Little', 'Monster House' etc.. But this, this is a level above; it's raised the bar. I can honestly end this review saying, this is animated equivalent of The Shawshank Redemption.

Thanks for your time, and keep on pollinating.

Creepily weird.

[stingluver · 4/10 · 7 October 2020]

The boyfriend is portrayed as the bad guy when he is the most normal character in the movie.

saved my life

[jdreibelbis-19266 · 10/10 · 30 November 2017]

Before watching the Bee Movie, I had clinical depression. My therapist recommended this movie to help through tough times. I said "Yeah right, how will a movie about bees help me?" Oh, I was sooo wrong. Ever since watching this movie, it has made me appreciate living more. I have spent more time with friends and family. I now am so confident in my life that I have a job. Thank you Jerry Seinfeld.

Insert Bee Movie Script Here

[svivschenk · 7/10 · 15 July 2019]

It is the kind of movie to enjoy ironically. Just sit down, grab a buddy, maybe even two buddies, and just rip this movie apart, while having a laugh in the process. Oh yeah, and the funniest thing in this movie is Patrick Warburton, who is the villian, because his girlfriend is friends with a bee. MCHWAAH ⛪⛪⛪

Forget the Death Penalty: Introduce the Bee Movie Penalty

[RiffRaffMcKinley · 1/10 · 11 April 2008]

It's been a while since I acquired a headache from a movie. For that, I thank "Bee Movie," a dreadfully mindless excursion into the worlds of both copycat kiddie fantasy and shameless commercial promotion (for a show that's been off the air for years).

This was a movie I never even wanted to watch. So the disc was inserted without my blessing into a DVD player that should be praised for its patience at showing such garbage, and I was subjected to all 90 or whatever minutes of this trash festival. I was told I wouldn't even notice the nasal, whiny, someone-please-strike-him-mute voice of hack comedian Jerry Seinfeld (that's right, I said it, Seinfeld *and* his show are two of the most cruel things that can be unleashed upon mankind). Naturally, that was wrong.

Basically, that meant that the movie was basically a rehash of movies like "A Bug's Life" and "Antz," both of which were very good movies in which insects dreamed of a better life and had the fortitude to make it happen. That sentence should be its own genre by now! Even the actors I had genuine respect for (Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, and Larry Miller, the hilarious voice of the pointy-haired boss in "Dilbert") were unimaginably uninspiring. They had absolutely no shame, wasting what seemed like hours on jokes about rock star Sting. They even sank so low as to feature a character called "Bee Larry King." Next time, can we please get Dugong Dr. Phil a role in a "Madagascar" sequel?

When a bee stings, it dies. It's a fact of biology. And this putrid bug corpse starts stinging the moment the disc drawer is closed.

Un-Bee-Lievable

[StGabriel97 · 9/10 · 11 February 2019]

The "Citizen Kane" of bug movies. My only regret in life is that I cant see this movie for the first time again and yet upon each re-viewing I find myself peeling back more and more of the metaphysical layers to this enthralling epic of tragedy and redemption.

Jerry Seinfeld delivers an Oscar worthy performance as Barry B. Benson, local hive schlub and opportunistic apis mellifera, he aims to please both his personal needs for love, passion and adventure as well as his parents wishes for stability and success. The results can bee bittersweet and downright hilarious at times, and ultimately enriches the audience with its tantalizing charm and wit.

As far as political agendas go "Bee Movie" dares to not shy away from allusions of eco-fascism and the socialist working class struggle, and faces the globalist honey collecting hordes head on through judicious and peaceful means. The political influence derived, serves as a peek into a Beewellian realm governed by a beenevolent dictator aiming to seize the rights of honey distribution worldwide, yet maintains a clear social hierarchy both in hive and out. Fascinating audiences worldwide "Bee Movie" is nothing less of a manifesto, and a warning of what to bee prepared for in a hypothetical future. As far as I'm concerned I welcome the thousand year hive with open arms, and think we'd all bee better off sticking one to big honey.

Black and Yellow! Hello! I give this instant classic two antennas up.

Mildly Amusting Animated Effort

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 22 March 2008]

"Mildly amusing" is probably the best description of this recently-released (on DVD) animated feature. My reviews on animated movies are what I thought of it as an adult, and how adults would relate to it. For this one, I'd say this is not a film adults will run out and buy: rent - yes/maybe; purchase - no.

The animation and story might be something kids will still enjoy but most of the gags fall flat for adults, although it does have a few clever things in it. It just isn't up to some of the truly funny animated films of the past few years. That said, it was still fun to watch with some humorous drawings in the background that you have to watch for quickly.

As for the story, for a film with a lot of politically-correct messages, stereotypical characters, Liberal icons plugged, etc., it was surprising to see a commonsense "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" conclusion. Kudos for that, but there are just too many dumb parts in this story. The connection of a talking bee with a human girlfriend was too ludicrous to be entertaining, as were the courtroom scenes.

The animation was fair. Yes, a story with flowers as a key ingredient is going to be colorful, so there is plenty of color but it looked kind of washed out and blah to what it could have been (i.e. "Cars," "Polar Express," etc.). I expected more out of a Dreamworks film.

Overall, for adults: skip it. It just isn't funny enough to invest your time. For the little kids, sure - they'll like it. They like almost almost any animated movie.

enjoyable as can bee

[Special-K88 · 24 December 2007]

Sharp, funny animated feature about a beemused young bee and recent college graduate who learns that he's destined to work a routine colony job for the rest of his life. Although his natural instinct is to beeware of humans, his life takes a turn for the better when he meets a saintly florist who not only beefriends him, but helps him quickly file a lawsuit beefore humans can take all the credit for mass production of honey! Occasionally too silly for words, probably by intention, but lots to take in with superb animation, good gags, and quirky, memorable characters. Comedy is uneven at times, but still serves as acceptable entertainment for kids and adults alike. ***

Colourful, with some sassy and smart moments, but it peters out in the last half

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 1 January 2011]

This is far from the worst movie ever(Disaster Movie) or the worst animated animated movie ever(Titanic:The Animated Movie), but despite its neat concept Bee Movie doesn't completely hold together consequently it is one of Dreamworks' weaker movies, Shark Tale being their worst.

Granted, there are things to like. The animation is gorgeous. The character designs are good enough, but the colours and backgrounds are the real revelations, as well as some of the visual gags. The music is a nice touch as well, the orchestral music is bright and breezy and the song in the end scene was lovely. I also loved the concept, and in the first half the film did work really well with it. It was original and well-written up to a certain point. The script in general is sassy and smart with the odd amusing pun, the pace to start with is brisk and the voice acting is solid with Jerry Seinfeld energetic, Renee Zellwegger warm and endearing and an assortment of effective cameos especially Ray Liotta's.

However, the film's problems come in the second half, and the start of those problems are with the courtroom scene which came across as forced and only slightly funny. Storywise, the last half hour feels like a different movie, first it is all warm, smart and infectious then it is close to serious and heavy-handed, and it also seemed as though the writers had run out of ideas. While there are some good jokes, others aren't so funny as it is the sort of humour that goes over the audience's heads, and the pace sags quite badly towards the end.

All in all, it isn't bad but it could have been better with a tighter second half and a more consistent set of ideas. 6/10 Bethany Cox

To Bee or not to Bee

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 19 September 2021]

I'm kind of surprised that not every single review has this as a summary line ... then again maybe it's better that way - I can use it with less guilt and it has probably a better effect.

Bees ... for the longest time they had a bad rep. And I reckon they still have - especially when you are eating (outside) and they come and you sort of panic. Though I'm not sure if it's bees every time. They (wasps) have similar traits and looks. They also are useful to nature, in a different way then bees, but still.

So taking a bit of the fear(s) many have of those insects is not a bad thing. You may have issues with how they are being humanized (with these movies they all talk and do other human stuff that is not in their actual nature), but you have to sell a movie to kids and their parents, so just suspend your disbelief.

Voice talent at hand is really good and the story flows (or flies?) along nicely. If you are a fan of Seinfeld even better - but I think even those who may not be too aware of him, will have lots of fun.

Seinfeld but a bee... get it... neither did i

[alexsnower · 4/10 · 15 July 2021]

Literally 1 hour and 30 minutes of Jerry Seinfeld stand up. What's the deal with this... etc. Terrible references to The Graduate, Goodfellas and even Over The Hedge are made. Wouldn't recommend.

The ASMR version on youtube is better

[Ratpires · 5/10 · 6 September 2021]

The ASMR version on youtube was actually funny if you can believe it. That's why I'm not giving this less than a 5.

Bee afraid, bee very afraid

[10fttall · 3/10 · 6 November 2007]

Why? That is the important question. Why was this movie made at all? I know Seinfeld was a "show about nothing" and I am a Seinfeld fan. This was a movie about nothing, but unlike the TV show, Bee Movie was agonizingly unfunny, pointless, and meandering. Whoever green-lighted this script clearly has a substance abuse problem.

I see lots of people are falling all over themselves with praise because this movie is cute, harmless, and not dirty. For goodness sake, folks, raise your standards! This is 2007! CG movies with cute characters are a dime a dozen. As consumers, we should express a desire for genuinely worthwhile, well thought, funny kids/CG movies. Otherwise, we will get more and more of this drivel, and worse. The only good point for Bee Movie, is that they did not descend into a bunch of toilet humor. On the other hand, the instances that you could call "humor" at all were few and far between.

They anthropromorphized something else non-human. This is not a bad idea in itself, but it has been done so much better before; giving life stories and every little nuance of human civilization to Bees. Everything has clever little names, mostly variants of "bee" or "honey." Only problem is that in this case, most of the clever naming and theming of the bee world falls flat, stupid, and causes eye rolls - as opposed to say, Cars, which did it about a thousand times better.

Next to Bee Movie, even the usual also-rans of animation such as Over the Hedge, and Madagascar, seem like genuine masterpieces and instant classics. I snickered a time or two, but sitting through the rest was in no way worth it. Children who are simple enough to be held in awe by anything that is animated, will really dig this movie. I'm sure as their age and sophistication increase past 6 or 7, kids will even begin to wish this movie was as sharp and funny as the dozens of better CG movies they have been exposed to.

Sting and Ray Liota? That was just plain dumb, and really not worth revisiting several times in the movie. The movie pace and feel actually had a little mediocre passable groove going, until the idiotic lawsuit plot got rolling. That brought everything to a crashing halt. John Goodman's performance fell flat, seeming to be a chemical induced over the top fat lawyer with a huge drawl (in New York?) It was almost embarrassing to hear him desperately trying to do something funny with this disaster of a script. With a great script, he can do over the top and weird characters superbly like in O Brother and Big Lebowski, but here he should not have touched the part. Chris Rock was one of the funniest parts of the whole movie, making me chuckle more than any other character, although he was only around for about 3 minutes total. The 90 minute running time seemed to crawl by, and I would have sworn I had been in there at least 2 hours.

In summary, unlike other CG movies we are used to, this has next to nothing for the grownups, and not much more for the kids. I don't know if Seinfeld is washed up, his time is past, or just rich and lazy these days, but this is not a positive for his career. Take the kids if you must, but don't bother bringing your spouse. And you're certainly not going to find yourself sneaking this one in the DVD player when nobody else is around like some of us might occasionally find ourselves doing with The Incredibles or Ice age.

You know it's not going to be bad...

[IamtheRegalTreatment · 6/10 · 1 November 2007]

It's Jerry Seinfeld for crying out loud, he only does gold! You've seen the commercials, trailers and advertisements: "Bee Movie is a hit". Come on, what did you expect? Hopefully nothing less than, "yeah it was pretty funny". That's what all these animated movies are like. How can you judge one above the other? There have been so many to this point, it's like they're all the same.

Bee Movie is a cute little movie about the life of working bees that come across a corporation selling their honey. Jerry Seinfeld's character Barry decides to talk to the humans, and once he discovers the "stealing" of the honey, he starts a lawsuit against the humans... this can only be animated. Come on! It's cute!! Although this movie shares similar qualities with other animation films, I did notice one thing that most animated films don't have: adult humor. Yes, it's true; it's rated PG for a reason. This film is the best of both worlds because it has both the funny little immature things that kids crave, but also humorous one-liners that adults will appreciate. I loved that about this movie, it was actually very funny.

6 out of 10 for my taste. Yes, it's the same movie as every other animated movie. It's only goal is to make money, and it WILL be successful. However, the plot was satisfactory, characters were very submissive and once again, Jerry's one-liners killed. Try to take notice of the little things. For only being 90 minutes, this movie is worth your time if you want a few good laughs. I hope you all enjoy.

3 things you can't avoid, death, taxes and Bee Movie

[darrenbjones · 7/10 · 21 November 2007]

If only our poor politicians could muster the money to create the incredible advertising monster that was Bee Movie. If you have kids it is pretty much a guarantee that you'll be asked to go see this movie or buy it when the DVD is released. Do not fear, this film actually lives up to the hype. For the infants, bright shiny colors and movement, for the kids, good animation, a fun story and some fun set pieces. For the adults pretty much all of the above and a plot that will keep you entertained if not enthralled and some laughs. The storyline goes through responsibility, duty, family, consequences for actions and Ray Liotta. The cast is a great ensemble, including, the aforementioned Liotta who parodies both himself and his career, Rene Zegweller, Matthew Broderick and of course Jerry Seinfeld who also co-wrote this. It also has Rip Torn who I cannot watch now without hearing "if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball." Forget logic, this is a kids movie and it's not about you, just be thankful Jerry Seinfeld put some stuff in this to keep you happy too, not all kids movies are so considerate.

If only all kids movies were this good.

Funny and cute cartoon, that gets a little tiring by the end.

[TOMNEL · 7/10 · 2 November 2007]

You can't go wrong by making a movie about a wise cracking bee who talks to people....well you probably can, but they didn't. "Bee Movie" is a clever and cute cartoon, with some great lively animation, and a plot that holds through until fairly close to the end.

Jerry Seinfeld voices Barry Benson, a bee fresh out of school and onto a new career, but if you choose one, you have to stick with it until death. When he is given the opportunity to leave the hive, he does, and sees the real world. He is appalled by the way bees are treated, having humans take their honey, so he, along with the help of his new human friend Vanessa, sues the human race.

It's actually quite a funny, if not corny (at times) movie. The voice acting is great and brought me back to the days when Seinfeld was on. Many actors make cameo voices, including Larry King, Oprah, Michael "Kramer" Richards, Sting, Ray Liotta, John Goodman and many others. Ray Liotta's cameo appearance is almost worth the admission alone. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, until about the last 20 minutes when the plot took a stupid turn, but picked itself up again for a fun ending. The movie also has many references that are fun to pick out, including ones of the Graduate and the Godfather.

Bee Movie is great for kids, adults will enjoy some inside jokes, and fans of Jerry Seinfeld won't be disappointed.

My rating: *** out of ****. 85 mins. PG for some mildly racial comments, and some mild violence.

A masterpiece of our time

[nebulous-63784 · 10/10 · 5 October 2018]

The Bee Movie is a brilliant piece of filmmaking. Will go up there with Citizen Kane and the Godfather. Biting social commentary, powerful drama, and likable characters. What is there that you can't love, man?! Just...beautiful, 10/10. Mwah! Mwah mwah! MWAH MWAH MWAH MWAH!

(honest review: It's fine I guess, I'd give it a 5)

A Bee Antz Bug Movie

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 13 December 2020]

"Antz" and "A Bug's Life" were both about individuality, then "Bee Movie" comes along to add to that same narrative. I'm just waiting for the termites and wasps to come out with their movie about breaking away from the hive/colony.

In "Bee Movie" Barry (Jerry Seinfeld) doesn't want to do the job he's been assigned to do. What's more, he is repulsed by the idea that humans collect all the sweet honey bees make. Barry wants to do his own thing and he wants all bees of the world to be free to not have to make honey. To achieve that Barry takes the honey manufacturing companies to court.

The biggest difference between this insect movie and the two aforementioned is that these insects are even more anthropomorphic. The bees speak English, can argue in court, and Barry even has a crush on a human.

This movie had its moments. It was funny at times even when it was being absurd. Even with suspended disbelief, though, some of the scenes were too much. It had an individualism theme with a touch of misanthropy-- "I want to be me and mingle with a person, but most people are bad (or at least the ones who farm bees for honey)." If only we could talk to bees and get their approval to eat their honey then the world would be a better place.

Silly with an Absurd Storyline

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 25 July 2008]

When the bee Barry B. Benson graduates from college, he finds that will have only one job for his entire life, and absolutely disappointed, he joins the team responsible for bringing the honey and pollination of the flowers to visit the world outside the hive. Once in Manhattan, he is saved by the florist Vanessa and he breaks the bee law to thank Vanessa. The become friends and Barry discovers that humans explore bees to sell the honey they produce. Barry decides to sue the human race, with destructive consequences to nature.

"Bee Movie" has a great animation, but unfortunately is silly with an absurd storyline. I do not understand what the writer might have in his mind with such lack of message; maybe a child could have written a better and more intelligent plot. The lead character in funny but has an annoying voice. I love animations, especially those with good messages. However, is so inaccurate and stupid that even for children I believe this movie does not work well. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Bee Movie – A História de Uma Abelha" ("Bee Movie – The Story of a Bee")

Comedy Masterpiece

[youngbri · 10/10 · 1 December 2016]

Bee Movie is utterly amazing. It's like a sequel to a movie no one has ever seen, but maybe someday we can get the prequel it deserves in "A-Movie." Why is it so great though?

Jerry Seinfeld, first of all.

When you have a comedic genius like that working on your film, how can it not be a true work of art? On top of that, he lends his iconic voice to the main character, Barry B. Benson.

Secondly, the puns. You could argue this is a result of Seinfeld, but I say it's because of the subject matter. Either way, the puns just keep rolling throughout the film. My personal favorite has to be the quip Barry makes about getting a perfect report card; straight B's.

Finally, the plot. I was not expecting such a deep plot from a movie about bees, but it actually turns into a case of civil rights as the bees discover that humans use them for their products, and the humans discover that the bees are actually sentient. Leave it to Seinfeld to take what should be the mundane and warp it into something far more interesting and introspective. I would recommend this movie to most anyone, except the staunchest of pun-haters.

Bradley Lily Say's it's " Family Action Packed"

[brettyler · 7/10 · 10 November 2007]

this movie is a great for the family. It Has Good Humor, great storyline, It is a fantastic kids movie. So if your looking for a great kids movie watch the hilarious comedy staring jerry Seinfeld Bee Movie. Pros: Graphics, voice-acting, JOkes, Cons: Not Deep in plot, I recommend this movie for any person who wants to see a great family film. Give me the decaf coffee and no one gets hurt HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH NOT wBjgnd

a e M

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BRAdley LILly the best 11 year old there is !!