#BarryMarder

[adamwatchesmovies]

Bee Movie (2007)

You wouldn't think it but when Bee Movie was released, it was a big deal. The trailers featured Jerry Seinfeld in a bee costume bouncing around, making a fool out of himself. The man was dedicated to this movie. He proudly attached his name to this animated picture. Why?

Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld) isn’t content working in the hive and wanders outside, where he breaks the rule of “Never speak to humans”. There, he learns a horrifying fact from Vanessa Bloome (voiced Renee Zellweger): for hundreds of years, bees have been exploited by humans! Outraged, Barry decides to sue mankind.

I like this premise. It’s so outrageous it’s kind of genius. Let’s take the “talking animal” thing to 11. Not only can bees talk, but they can also take us to court! Too bad that’s not really what this movie is about. For the most part, Bee Movie is a run-of-the-mill animated film. Barry wants to be more than a bee. He makes a friend in the human world, encounters sleazy, one-dimensional villains, and learns a lesson before it's wrapped up nicely with a message we’ve seen a thousand times. This film should’ve been a parody of talking animal films and of legal thrillers. Instead, it bombards you with bee puns.

“Bee Larry King”, “BeeNN”, jokes about Winnie the Pooh and honey. These perfectly sum up the film's "quality" of humor. I know children aren’t really capable of scrutinizing any film that moves quickly, but there’s nothing here for anyone. I found my mind wandering, entertained only by stupid questions. If there’s a Bee Larry King, and a BeJesus, does that mean there’s a bee equivalent for every human? Where was Abeeham Lincoln to free the bees from the bonds of slavery? Did Mahatma Gan-bee get squashed before he could speak to mankind? Does Barry B. Benson sound and act exactly like Jer-bee Seinfeld? Are they long-lost twin brothers? Why is Ray Liotta in this film? Are he and Jerry Seinfeld that good of friends he decided to sign on and play himself? Will your children find it funny that he does?

Bee Movie came out the same year as Ratatouille and Shrek the 3rd. It looks like a grocery store commercial next to those. The humans have that post-Toy Story, pre-Monsters, Inc. look where people are supposed to look cartoonish but instead look like nightmares. The insects are just as disappointing. Barry isn't really a bee, he’s just a little flying man. The filmmakers didn’t want to challenge themselves with a protagonist with more than 4 limbs or by conveying emotion using a face that didn’t have a mouth or nose. “Who cares? This movie’s for kids! They’re not picky!”

The good news is that Bee Movie is often so bad, it becomes funny. If you know a lot of bad insect and bee puns, you'll have a blast chiming in, making jokes at its expense. I'm telling you now so you can go in prepared. Unfortunately, I was too surprised at the film's "plain bread with a glass of water" blandness to join in on the fun.

Bee Movie is the kind of film that blows your mind because you remember seeing it and liking it a decade ago. I had a good joke about it being “the bees of time and the wasps of times” but I don’t care enough to find a home for it here. I will when I revisit the film though and then, it'll be as sweet an experience as honey. (November 18, 2016)

[tedlnancy]

Barry Marder (Ted L. Nancy) on latest Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

[tedlnancy]

The audiences have been great! So flattering.

Respectfully, Ted L. Nancy