cinema: A hive of hilarity

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Dec 14, 2007

BEE MOVIE

(U, 90 mins) Family/comedy. Featuring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Barry Levinson, Megan Mullally. Directors: Simon J Smith, Steve Hickner. *****

SIMON J Smith and Steve Hickner's computer-animated adventure introduces us to the thankless existence of the humble honeybee.

In this miniature world, which invites obvious comparisons with Pixar's A Bug's Life, a single worker insect literally changes the world by pursuing a course of action which he believes is in the best interest of the hive.

Unfortunately, noble intentions pollinate catastrophe and so the very same creature has to overcome his physical limitations to save his kind from extinction.

Co-written by Jerry Seinfeld, who also voices the lead character, Bee Movie is a fitfully amusing romp that peddles many obviously puns and gags: "A perfect report card - all Bs!" The film pokes fun at myriad celebrities including Sting, Larry King and Ray Liotta, who lend their dulcet tones to their animated alter-egos.

Wisecracking critter Barry B Benson (voiced by Seinfeld), is a high-flying college graduate facing the grim prospect of a life of servitude for Honex, the hive's honey-making operation.

To the despair of his parents (Levinson, Bates), Barry yearns to escape the endless drudgery. He dreams of flying free with the so-called pollen jocks, but as his best pal Adam (Broderick) reminds him, "You can't just decide to be a pollen jock. You have to be bred for it".

Before doing his duty in the hive, Barry joins the jocks for a mission in the outside world. He is dazzled by the bright colours, especially the flower box of florist Vanessa Bloome (Zellweger). Vanessa introduces the little bee to her world and the shocking realisation that mankind steals honey. Barry vows to right this unspeakable wrong, instigating a high-profile court case that has devastating repercussions.

"When I'm finished with the humans they won't be able to say 'Honey, I'm home' without paying royalties!" he seethes. Bee Move buzzes along with sufficient energy to sustain our interest for 90 minutes, introducing a menagerie of colourful characters including a mosquito called Mooseblood (Rock) who finds his calling as a lawyer.

"I was already a blood-sucking parasite. All I needed was a briefcase," he quips. Visuals are slick, though none of the centrepiece sequences push the medium to its technological limits.

Seinfeld brings his dry humour to his role as the unlikely saviour.

Zellweger, Broderick and co offer lively support as Smith and Hickner's film flutters to its neat, upbeat conclusion.

NO SWEARING; NO SEX; NO VIOLENCE

CAPTION(S):

SUCCESSFUL ROMP - Bee movie is full of dry humour