Bee Movie

Parents say
Based on 76 reviews
Kids say
Based on 133 reviews
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Bee Movie
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Bee Movie is an animated comedy about a bee who wants to do something different than what his hive expects. While the film is mainly a vehicle for star Jerry Seinfeld's comedy, the good news is that it's a film that even little kids can follow. Barry and friends (both human and bee) show courage by standing up for what they believe and working as a team. A few tense moments involve Barry's pell-mell flights through Manhattan and humans trying to kill bugs. There are no overarching villains or monsters but Barry does run across some dead bug bodies, some humans are held at gunpoint, and Barry and Vanessa talk about a "suicide pact." While they may go over young heads, there are a few questionable jokes, like when Barry calls Bees "honey slaves to the White man" or his parents request he find a girl who's "Beeish" (the insect equivalent of being Jewish). Other jokes geared toward adults reference Larry King, Sting, and Ray Liotta, and a mosquito makes a blood-sucking lawyer joke.
Community Reviews
Excellent for the whole family!
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Bee Movie
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What's the Story?
In BEE MOVIE, Barry Benson (voiced by Jerry Seinfeld), who's just graduated from bee college, is horrified to learn that he must pick his life-long job as a worker bee and will never get a day off. But then he gets the chance to leave the hive and ends up flying into the apartment of friendly florist Vanessa Bloome (Renée Zellweger), who saves him from being smooshed by her arrogant boyfriend (Seinfeld vet Patrick Warburton). In addition to the interspecies crush that Barry develops on Vanessa, he finds out, to his disgust, that humans flagrantly consume honey -- the nectar his kind toil their entire lives to produce -- in everything from lip balm to tea. At that point, the comedy takes a slight backseat to a bit of courtroom drama (presided over by an Oprah Winfrey-voiced judge), wherein the bees sue the honey corporations.
Is It Any Good?
The humor is there (Seinfeld is a gifted comedian, even in the form of his bee alter ego), and the story is original (although quirky). But Bee Movie's animation isn't nearly as amazing as that found in Pixar films, and only a couple of characters get major laughs. This film was Jerry Seinfeld's labor of love, and he worked hard promoting the honey out of the picture. But it falls slightly below expectations, and current watchers will find some of the humor, particularly around gender and race, a bit stale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what parts of Bee Movie are intended to appeal to kids, and which ones are meant for adults. How can you tell?
Families can also discuss why the bees, particularly Barry, wanted their honey returned. Does honey seem more important now than before you saw the film?
What's the role of bees in the environment? What happens when bees are no longer around to do their pollinating work?
How do Barry and his friends show courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 1, 2007
- On DVD or streaming: March 10, 2008
- Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Matthew Broderick, Renee Zellweger
- Directors: Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner
- Studio: DreamWorks
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Bugs, Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage, Teamwork
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild suggestive humor, and a brief depiction of smoking.
- Last updated: April 2, 2022
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