Bee Movie, The (2007)

2.5 out of 4

Starring: voices of Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock

Directors: Steve Hickner and Simon J Smith

Time: 90 mins

Viewed: Mega Movies at Brunswick Square, East Brunswick, New Jersey

Jerry Seinfeld-conceived animated film about a bee named Barry B Benson (voiced by Seinfeld) who decides to challenge hive conformity by going out into the wider world and seeing what's there. He runs into humans (Zellweger, Warburton), finds how honey is mass-produced, and becomes a celebrity in court! Bright, colourful cartoon begins promisingly enough, with a Seinfeldian look at the bee world and a dazzling bee's-eye view (and tour) of Manhattan, but then becomes heavy-handed with courtroom shenanigans and the impact of ruined vegetation. Typical Seinfeld one-liners will keep adults interested, but a little too high-concept for kids, methinks.

(c) Joe Wong (4 November 2007)